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2 Feb 2010 : Column 236W—continued
Nurses
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses qualified in each of the last five years. [315075]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected by the Department. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) does not hold information on the numbers of newly qualified nurses but does collate data on the number of initial NMC registrants. Statistical information about the number of initial registrants to the NMC can be viewed via the follow website address:
Nutrition
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 9 November 2009, Official Report, column 128W, on nutrition, if he will ensure that his Department's response to the report of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board is finalised and the report and the response published by the end of February 2010. [314568]
Phil Hope: We propose to publish the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board final report on progress in implementing the Nutrition Action Plan, together with the Government's response, in February 2010.
Obesity: Drugs
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued instructions to doctors to cease prescribing the anti-obesity drug sibutramine; whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will bring forward its 2011 review of its guidance on obesity to take account of this development; and if he will make a statement. [314671]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am told that the recent advice issued to healthcare professionals on sibutramine by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) followed a Europe-wide review of the risks and benefits of this medicine. This review has been conducted by the European Medicines Agency's (EMA's) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) after the receipt of new data from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes (SCOUT) study. This large long-term study was conducted at the request of the CHMP to determine the effects of sibutramine in obese and overweight patients with cardiovascular risk factors.
The new data from the SCOUT study showed that patients with cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes treated with sibutramine had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke compared with those receiving a placebo. Available study data also suggest that the average weight loss achieved with sibutramine is modest and may not be maintained after treatment is stopped. As a key aim of treating obesity is to decrease the risk of cardiovascular-related conditions such as heart attack and stroke, the risks of sibutramine were considered by the CHMP to outweigh its benefits. Consequently the CHMP has recommended that the licences for sibutramine should be suspended across Europe.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued supplementary advice to stakeholders in the obesity clinical guideline that the recommendations relating to sibutramine have been withdrawn and that the MHRA advice should be followed. NICE'S advice is published on its website at:
Social Services: Vulnerable Adults
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's response to its consultation on strengthening protection for vulnerable adults of 19 January 2010, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals for the mandatory Safeguarding Adults Boards; what estimate he has made of the cost under each budget heading of implementing such proposals; and from what budgets such funding would be drawn. [314627]
Phil Hope: On 19 January 2010, Official Report, columns 8-10WS, we issued a written ministerial statement in response to the consultation on safeguarding adults. This statement outlines the Government's plans, which are to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits. The costs involved in putting safeguarding boards on a statutory footing will depend on what duties are specified in the legislation. This is still under discussion.
St. James Hospital Leeds: Oncology
Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of establishing the regional oncology centre at St. James's University Hospital. [314654]
Ann Keen: Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) reports that the Bexley Wing, the regional oncology centre based at St. James's University Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, cost £220 million.
Wheelchairs
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to undertake a review of wheelchair services in England; and if he will make a statement. [314516]
Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 789W.
International Development
Departmental NDPBs
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for how many non-departmental public bodies his Department is responsible. [314261]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for one non-departmental public body, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). The CSC is responsible for managing Britain's contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship Plan.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will publish the travel guidance issued to staff of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK. [314923]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not issue travel guidance to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). As a non-departmental public body, the CSC has independently produced guidance on this issue, which can be found at:
Haiti: Earthquakes
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his international counterparts in respect of the sanitation of camps for displaced persons in Haiti. [315031]
Mr. Michael Foster:
Officials of the Department for International Development (DFID) and I have been in regular contact with our European counterparts, including European Development Ministers and Cathy Ashton,
the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Alexander) has held discussions with Josette Sheeran, head of the World Food Programme and Dr. Rajiv Shah, the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID's) administrator. The Secretary of State has also met with John Holmes, head of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. A wide range of issues that must be addressed urgently in Haiti, including sanitation, have been discussed.
Our field team reports that co-ordination of water and sanitation relief efforts continues to improve despite the scope and complexity of this response. There are still problems, but donors, cluster leads and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs are working to identify solutions.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Colombia: Human Rights
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of Colombia on reports of its treatment of representatives of (a) trade unions, (b) students, (c) indigenous peoples and (d) other groups. [314839]
Chris Bryant: We regularly raise human rights with President Uribe and other members of the Colombian Government with reference to the plight of vulnerable groups such as those mentioned. Our embassy in Bogota also makes representations to the Colombian Government in specific cases of abuse.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Colombia on the case of the trade union representative, Alirio Garcia. [314840]
Chris Bryant: Yes. I will raise Mr. Garcia's case with the Colombian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adriana Mejia.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the operation of the justice system in Colombia. [314841]
Chris Bryant: There are serious problems facing Colombia's judicial system, and the issue of impunity remains a particular concern. There is a lack of accountability for state forces guilty of human rights violations, and for crimes committed by non-state actors. These are issues I regularly raise with the Colombian Government.
We are funding two projects aimed at tackling impunity in Colombia at present, totalling £250,000. The largest of these projects is being implemented by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and is being tailored to meet the needs of those involved in the Colombian judicial process, including investigators, lawyers and judges.
Cyprus: Property
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2010, Official Report, column 585W, what revisions he has made to his Department's guidance in relation to property development in the north of Cyprus. [314484]
Chris Bryant: We are currently reviewing our travel advice, as we do on a regular basis. It already contains guidance relating to property in Cyprus, in which we highlight the issues involved and recommend that purchasers obtain independent legal advice.
Departmental Health and Safety
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2010, Official Report, column 486W, on departmental health and safety, if he will place in the Library a copy of the document previously used by his Department to provide staff with health and safety advice. [314017]
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff his Department employs in each of the UK's overseas territories. [314152]
Chris Bryant: The number of staff employed by my Department in each of the Overseas Territories is as follows:
Anguilla : Four UK-based; and one locally engaged staff in the Governor's office
Ascension Island: The Administrator
Bermuda: Three UK-based in the Governor's office
British Virgin Islands: Four UK-based; and two locally-engaged staff in the Governor's office
Cayman Islands: Four UK-based; and one locally engaged staff in the Governor's office
Gibraltar: 22 Employed in the Office of the Governor
Falkland Islands: Four UK-based staff in the Governor's office
Montserrat: Four UK-based; and two locally engaged staff in the Governor's office
Pitcairn: One, The Governor's Representative
St Helena: Three UK-based staff in the Governor's office
Turks and Caicos Islands: Six UK-based staff
Tristan da Cunha: One, The Administrator
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department are serving as heads of mission overseas. [314153]
Chris Bryant: There are 143 staff currently serving overseas in the position of ambassador or high commissioner. In addition, there are a further 41 staff serving as head of subordinate post, and nine staff serving as governor/administrator.
Departmental NDPBs
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how many non-departmental public bodies his Department is responsible. [314254]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office sponsors the following non-departmental public bodies:
The British Council
Diplomatic Service Appeal Board
Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
Great Britain-China Centre
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Wilton Park Advisory Council.
Kazakhstan: Overseas Trade
Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent reports of corruption in business transactions between the UK and Kazakhstan. [314717]
Chris Bryant: I have not received any recent reports of corruption in business transactions between the UK and Kazakhstan.
Middle East: Peacekeeping Operations
Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to vote in favour of the endorsement of the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict at the forthcoming meetings of (a) the UN General Assembly and (b) the UN Security Council. [313371]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UN General Assembly in New York considered the Goldstone report on 5 November 2009 where we made our position clear: some aspects of the report were flawed-particularly its failure to acknowledge fully Israel's right to protect its citizens, and the inadequate attention paid to Hamas' actions. We eventually decided to abstain on the resolution, with France and 42 others, because voting for the resolution would have meant endorsing the report and ignoring its flaws. However, the issues raised by the report were very serious, and they should be credibly and independently investigated.
The UN Secretary General is expected to release a report on the progress of both Israeli and Palestinian investigations in February 2010. We will consider his report when we receive it.
Overseas Residence: Crime
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are (a) detained abroad awaiting trial and (b) detained abroad in violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [314533]
Chris Bryant: The most recent figures show that on 30 September 2009, we were aware of 2,582 British nationals detained overseas. It is not possible to give the number who are still awaiting trial except by looking through the files on all these detainees, which would involve disproportionate expense.
Where we are aware of concerns that a British national is not being treated in line with international standards we will, with the detainee's permission, consider approaching the local authorities. We keep individual records of cases where concerns are raised. However for the reasons already described we cannot give the number of cases where concerns have been raised over denial of the rights set out in article 9 of the international covenant on civil and political rights.
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