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Health

Ambulance Services

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents were recorded of ambulances experiencing difficulty in reaching patients in emergency need in Greater London between 19.00 on Tuesday 2 November 2010 and 19.00 on Wednesday 3 November 2010. [22915]

Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to raise this directly with London Ambulance Service NHS trust.

Ambulance services are currently commissioned by primary care trusts, which have a responsibility to ensure that appropriate services are provided to their populations. Each ambulance service should therefore plan to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand.


9 Nov 2010 : Column 236W

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Health Services

Mr Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hospital admissions there were for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) all respiratory diseases in (i) Mansfield district primary care trust area and (ii) each other primary care trust area in the latest period for which figures are available; [22230]

(2) how many hospital bed days there were for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) all respiratory diseases in (i) Mansfield district primary care trust area and (ii) each other primary care trust area in the latest period for which figures are available. [22231]

Mr Simon Burns: The information has been placed in the Library.

Dental Services: Training

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he gave to the training provided for newly-qualified dentists when formulating his proposals for the new contract for NHS dentistry. [22329]

Mr Simon Burns: We are committed, following consultation and piloting, to introducing a new dentistry contract with a focus on improving quality, achieving good dental health and increasing access to national health service dentistry. We will be consulting patients, the NHS and the dental profession including the postgraduate dental deans who are responsible for quality assuring the vocational training which newly qualified dental graduates are required to undertake before they may practise in the NHS. Since this training is undertaken in primary care dental practices, the dentists should be able to familiarise themselves with the new contractual arrangements at an early stage in their careers.

Health Education: Young People

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have for providing teenagers with access to information and advice on making healthy lifestyle choices in schools. [22598]

Anne Milton: We will outline our plans for helping teenagers to make healthy choices in the forthcoming public health White Paper. In addition, the Department for Education wants all young people to benefit from high quality personal social health and economic teaching and is currently considering how best to ensure this.

Health Visitors: Stoke-on-Trent

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he has allocated to the provision of health visitors in Stoke-on-Trent in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [22835]

Anne Milton: Health visitors have a key role to play in leading and delivering the Healthy Child Programme and wider health services to children and families locally and in ensuring that links are made where appropriate
9 Nov 2010 : Column 237W
with primary care practitioners. The work that they do is central to support the health and development of all children, in particular the most vulnerable.

We announced on 21 October 2010, a national recruitment drive to create 4,200 new health visitor posts and build a rejuvenated profession, across the country, including the Stoke-on-Trent area.

Hospitals: Smoking

Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effect of implementation of a ban on smoking in psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric wards of hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [22693]

Paul Burstow: There is clear evidence that the smokefree legislation is working very well and almost all enclosed workspaces and public places including mental health units are free from second hand smoke and the dangers to health which arise from exposure to second hand smoke. Public support for the smokefree law is high and continues to grow. Even a majority of smokers now support the law. We will keep working on the evidence base for tobacco control and will say more about our plans in the public health white paper.

There are significant health inequalities associated with having a mental illness. 70% of those resident in mental health units smoke compared to 21% of the general population. Statistics show that the desire to stop smoking is as strong in those with mental illnesses as it is in those who do not. People with severe mental illness die on average 20 years sooner than the average and the majority of these deaths are smoking related. It is right that the incidence of smoking related early death is addressed across the population regardless of race, religion, social status, physical or mental health.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for an MRI scan for patients from referral to scan in each primary care trust area in each year since 1997. [22217]

Mr Simon Burns: Waiting times for imaging diagnostic procedures were first collected in April 2006.

The average waiting time for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan for patients from referral to scan in each primary care trust at the end of March in each year since 2006 is in the following table:


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9 Nov 2010 : Column 241W
Median in-patient waiting time for MRI scans (weeks)
Time periods March 2007-August 2010 (commissioner based)
Month ending March each year
Primary care trusts (PCTs) 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Newcastle PCT

2.7

2.3

2.1

1.9

North Tyneside PCT

1.9

1.9

1.5

1.5

Hartlepool PCT

3.8

2.3

1.1

2.1

Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT

3.9

2.4

1.5

2.4

Darlington PCT

2.9

2.3

1.9

1.5

Gateshead PCT

2.1

1.6

1.9

2.0

South Tyneside PCT

2.0

2.0

1.9

1.7

Sunderland Teaching PCT

4.4

2.6

2.7

1.6

Middlesbrough PCT

2.6

2.3

1.5

1.8

County Durham PCT

3.6

2.4

1.9

1.8

Redcar and Cleveland PCT

2.5

2.5

1.3

1.2

Northumberland Care Trust

2.5

1.8

1.7

1.3

Salford PCT

3.7

1.0

1.2

2.0

Stockport PCT

5.7

2.3

1.6

1.3

Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT

4.3

1.2

1.4

1.3

Blackpool PCT

3.4

1.9

1.6

1.8

Bolton PCT

3.5

1.5

1.5

1.6

Warrington PCT

4.3

0.9

1.2

1.7

Knowsley PCT

3.3

1.9

1.4

1.6

Oldham PCT

4.5

2.4

1.6

1.5

Bury PCT

3.6

2.0

2.1

1.6

Tameside and Glossop PCT

3.7

2.1

1.9

2.3

Cumbria Teaching PCT

3.9

2.2

2.0

2.2

North Lancashire Teaching PCT

3.3

2.4

1.7

1.6

Central Lancashire PCT

3.6

1.7

1.5

1.4

East Lancashire Teaching PCT

3.0

2.1

1.7

1.8

Sefton PCT

3.8

1.7

1.7

1.7

Wirral PCT

2.7

2.1

1.6

2.1

Liverpool PCT

4.1

2.3

1.9

1.9

Halton and St Helens PCT

2.6

1.0

1.2

1.1

Western Cheshire PCT

2.1

n/a

1.4

1.9

Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT

4.4

1.3

1.7

1.5

Heywood, Middleton And Rochdale PCT

3.5

2.1

2.8

1.8

Trafford PCT

3.6

2.1

2.0

2.1

Manchester PCT

3.8

2.2

1.9

1.8

Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus

3.9

2.2

1.5

2.0

North Lincolnshire PCT

3.1

2.3

1.0

1.5

Rotherham PCT

2.3

2.5

1.9

2.0

Calderdale PCT

2.8

1.6

1.5

1.6

Barnsley PCT

2.4

1.5

1.4

1.6

Leeds PCT

2.0

2.1

1.6

2.1

Kirklees PCT

3.9

1.8

1.2

1.6

Wakefield District PCT

5.1

1.8

1.5

1.7

Sheffield PCT

2.9

2.1

1.0

0.9

Doncaster PCT

2.9

1.6

1.7

1.0

North Yorkshire and York PCT

2.8

2.4

1.6

1.6

East Riding of Yorkshire PCT

4.4

2.4

1.6

2.0

Hull Teaching PCT

5.0

2.4

1.7

2.4

Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT

3.7

2.1

1.9

0.7

North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus

2.6

2.3

1.0

1.1

Nottingham City PCT

2.9

2.3

1.5

2.3

Bassetlaw PCT

3.0

1.7

1.7

1.0

Derbyshire County PCT

2.2

1.8

1.4

1.6

Derby City PCT

1.6

2.4

1.5

1.9

Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT

2.7

1.8

1.3

1.7

Lincolnshire Teaching PCT

3.8

1.8

1.4

1.7

Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT

2.2

1.7

1.2

1.5

Leicester City PCT

2.1

1.9

1.2

1.4

Northamptonshire Teaching PCT

3.8

2.3

1.6

1.8

Herefordshire PCT

2.3

4.3

1.3

1.8

South Birmingham PCT

3.2

2.3

1.9

2.9

Shropshire County PCT

2.4

2.1

1.9

1.8

Walsall Teaching PCT

3.3

1.5

1.9

1.2

Coventry Teaching PCT

3.4

2.0

1.4

1.5

Telford and Wrekin PCT

3.7

2.6

1.7

1.8

Wolverhampton City PCT

2.6

1.8

1.5

1.4

Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT

2.6

1.7

1.6

2.1

Dudley PCT

3.0

2.2

1.0

2.2

Sandwell PCT

2.7

2.1

1.5

1.8

Birmingham East and North PCT

3.2

2.4

1.8

2.1

North Staffordshire PCT

3.6

2.7

2.1

1.9

Stoke on Trent PCT

3.9

3.0

1.8

2.0

South Staffordshire PCT

4.0

2.1

1.7

2.2

Worcestershire PCT

3.1

1.8

1.5

1.9

Warwickshire PCT

3.6

2.2

1.6

1.6

Solihull Care Trust

3.1

2.6

1.3

2.1

Luton PCT

4.8

1.9

1.1

1.5

South East Essex PCT

2.0

n/a

1.4

1.7

Bedfordshire PCT

4.3

2.5

1.7

2.0

Peterborough PCT

3.4

2.2

2.3

2.0

Cambridgeshire PCT

2.6

1.6

1.7

2.0

Norfolk PCT

4.4

2.8

2.0

2.6

Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT

3.5

2.6

2.5

1.8

Suffolk PCT

3.5

2.4

1.5

2.0

West Essex PCT

4.6

3.0

2.4

2.3

North East Essex PCT

2.7

2.1

1.9

1.4

Mid Essex PCT

2.8

1.7

1.0

0.9

South West Essex PCT

4.3

2.2

1.0

1.5

East and North Hertfordshire PCT

3.7

2.2

1.9

2.0

West Hertfordshire PCT

4.7

2.1

1.7

1.4

Hertfordshire PCT

2.2

1.7

1.2

1.5

Havering PCT

4.9

2.4

1.6

2.2

Kingston PCT

4.8

2.1

1.5

1.4

Bromley PCT

3.3

3.4

0.9

0.9

Greenwich Teaching PCT

2.4

1.8

1.4

1.6

Barnet PCT

4.3

1.9

1.5

1.4

Hillingdon PCT

3.7

2.0

1.5

1.8

Enfield PCT

4.5

1.9

1.7

1.2

Barking and Dagenham PCT

4.5

2.2

1.6

2.0

City and Hackney Teaching PCT

2.5

2.6

1.5

1.4

Tower Hamlets PCT

2.1

2.2

1.7

1.9

Newham PCT

2.9

2.4

1.7

1.6

Haringey Teaching PCT

4.0

2.4

1.7

1.2

Hammersmith and Fulham PCT

2.6

2.8

1.8

1.4

Ealing PCT

4.6

2.4

1.3

1.3

Hounslow PCT

6.0

3.1

2.2

1.0

Brent Teaching PCT

4.8

2.1

1.7

1.6

Harrow PCT

4.6

2.2

1.8

1.6

Camden PCT

2.7

2.5

2.0

1.4

Islington PCT

4.3

2.7

2.3

1.5

Croydon PCT

4.3

1.8

1.9

2.3

Kensington and Chelsea PCT

4.1

2.5

1.4

1.6

Westminster PCT

4.0

2.7

1.7

0.9

Lambeth PCT

3.1

2.1

1.8

1.7

Southwark PCT

3.1

2.1

2.0

2.0

Lewisham PCT

2.8

2.4

1.5

1.8

Wandsworth PCT

4.1

2.1

1.9

1.2

Richmond and Twickenham PCT

5.9

3.0

1.7

1.1

Sutton and Merton PCT

3.8

2.1

1.7

1.0

Redbridge PCT

4.4

2.0

1.6

1.7

Waltham Forest PCT

4.4

2.3

1.8

1.3

Bexley Care Trust

2.9

1.8

1.5

1.4

Medway PCT

2.4

1.5

1.3

2.3

Brighton and Hove City PCT

2.8

1.8

1.0

1.4

Surrey PCT

3.4

1.8

1.9

1.5

West Sussex PCT

3.3

2.1

1.9

1.6

East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

2.6

2.5

1.3

2.0

Hastings and Rother PCT

4.3

2.6

1.8

2.6

West Kent PCT

3.9

3.1

1.8

1.9

Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT

4.0

2.0

1.6

1.6

Milton Keynes PCT

2.4

1.6

1.3

0.9

Portsmouth City Teaching PCT

4.7

2.4

1.4

2.6

Southampton City PCT

2.5

2.4

2.2

2.5

Hampshire PCT

3.5

2.1

1.5

2.2

Buckinghamshire PCT

4.1

2.2

1.4

1.7

Oxfordshire PCT

2.8

2.3

1.8

1.9

Berkshire West PCT

2.4

1.1

2.6

2.4

Berkshire East PCT

3.3

2.6

2.1

2.5

Isle of Wight NHS PCT

2.5

3.5

1.5

1.6

South Gloucestershire PCT

3.6

2.2

1.1

1.7

Plymouth Teaching PCT

3.3

1.5

1.7

1.9

Bath and North East Somerset PCT

6.0

1.2

1.7

1.4

Swindon PCT

5.1

1.4

2.4

3.3

North Somerset PCT

3.8

2.2

1.9

2.1

Gloucestershire PCT

3.2

1.6

1.6

1.2

Bristol PCT

3.7

1.9

1.5

2.0

Wiltshire PCT

4.6

1.6

1.8

1.6

Somerset PCT

3.2

1.4

1.3

1.3

Dorset PCT

3.5

2.6

1.3

1.5

Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT

2.6

2.5

1.4

1.5

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT

5.3

2.3

1.1

1.8

Devon PCT

3.3

1.5

1.3

1.9

Torbay Care Trust

2.9

2.0

1.3

1.5

Notes:
1. Numbers reflect the median wait of those still waiting for MRI scan at month end.
2. Medians not calculated where waiting list is under 50.
Source:
Monthly Diagnostic (DM01) return to Department of Health

Influenza: Vaccination

Mr Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of influenza vaccine are available for use in NHS facilities. [23049]

Anne Milton: Based on information supplied by vaccine manufacturers to the Department, 13.4 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine had been distributed in the United Kingdom for both national health service and private use by 29 October 2010. This compares to 13.2 million doses at the equivalent point last year. Vaccine manufacturers advise that there are about 275,000 further doses still available for distribution.

Meat

Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to prevent the importation of chicken injected with pork and beef waste; and if he will make a statement. [22730]

Anne Milton: There is no evidence of pork and beef waste products being added to chicken meat, however ingredients can be legally added from other meat species, provided they have been produced in accordance with United Kingdom food law to ensure food safety.

The Secretary of State has no powers to prevent importation of chicken with added water and proteins. This is not a food safety issue but rather a food labelling issue as meat products that have been injected with hydrolysed animal proteins, water, or other added ingredients can be marketed legally provided all the necessary information is given to the consumer.

Food labelling rules are agreed at European Union level and prohibit false or misleading labelling. Labelling rules require that certain meat products that resemble a cut or slice of meat must mention in the name of the food any ingredients which originate from a different species to the rest of the meat.

Local authorities ensure that food on sale in the UK complies with these labelling rules. Sampling is routinely carried by local authorities to check for added water and added protein in chicken. Where there is evidence of non-compliance in this respect, enforcement action is taken. The local authorities carry out enforcement action according to the statutory Food Law Code of Practice; this ensures that local authority practice across the UK is consistent with UK / EU food law.

The Government's Food Authenticity research programme develops analytical methods for food enforcement laboratories to help combat misleading
9 Nov 2010 : Column 242W
labelling and food fraud. The programme is currently working with partners in Europe and the United States of America to produce a method to reliably detect undeclared pork and beef proteins used to retain added water in chicken products. The Commission is aware and supportive of this collaborative project.

Meat Hygiene Service

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he plans to make for funding of the functions formerly undertaken by the Meat Hygiene Service in each of the next three years. [22496]

Anne Milton: The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) merged with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on 1 April 2010, the FSA continues to undertake the functions of the MHS.

The FSA is currently developing a new policy for charging for these functions and will be launching a 12 week public consultation later this month detailing its proposals.

The responses to this public consultation will be taken into consideration by the FSA in determining the final policy on charging for these functions. Ministers will also be consulted on the FSA's final policy before it is implemented.

Any increases in charges to the meat industry arising from the new policy will not take effect until January 2012 at the earliest.

Meat: Labelling

Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issues on the preparation and packaging of halal meat. [22728]

Anne Milton: There are no guidelines issued from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) specifically on the 'preparation' and 'packaging' of Halal meat.

Meat intended to be described as Halal must be slaughtered in accordance with United Kingdom food law. This ensures the food is fit for human consumption.

The FSA recently reissued guidance (first published in 2003) for local authority food enforcement officers on Halal food issues to help local authorities make sure that food businesses comply with food labelling rules which are agreed at European Union level and prohibit false or misleading labelling. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Medical Treatments: Exports

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of supply of medicinal products in the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [22335]

(2) what representations he has received on amendment of the Medicines Act 1968 to prevent the export of medicinal products that are in short supply in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [22336]

(3) if he will bring forward legislative proposals in his forthcoming health Bill to prevent the export of medicinal products that are in short supply in the UK. [22337]


9 Nov 2010 : Column 243W

Paul Burstow: Ministers have had representations from supply chain organisations, health care professionals and patients, on the issue of medicines supply including issues relating to the Medicines Act. The Department, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders are working collaboratively to better understand and mitigate the impact of supply difficulties so that patients receive the medicines they need.

The purpose of the 2010 Health and Social Care Bill is to take forward the changes set out in the Government White Paper, 'Liberating the NHS', which require primary legislation. The free movement of goods, including medicines, between member states of the European Union is a fundamental principle of the single market upon which the European Union is built, and therefore legislation to this end would be inappropriate. The Government will not take forward proposals to prevent the export of any medicinal products.

Mental Health

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, column 66W, on mental illness (1) what consultation his Department has undertaken on its new mental health strategy; [23086]

(2) what opportunity (a) charities and (b) individuals will have to contribute to his new mental health strategy. [23105]

Paul Burstow: Discussions are under way on the strategy and views are being gathered from a range of partners, including professional organisations and voluntary sector groups, as well as individual service users and carers. The Future Vision Coalition, and the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition, each representing a large number of organisations, are members of the Mental Health Strategy Programme Board.

The Department consulted widely on New Horizons, the previous Government's mental health strategy and coalition Ministers agreed that they would not rehearse again positions that are already widely understood. Instead, we have engaged with leading organisations and individuals, including people who use services. We are also seeking input specifically on the new strategy from other Government Departments and externally.

Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) primary care trusts permitting the use of Sativex, (b) NHS patients receiving Sativex and (c) NHS patients refused Sativex in the latest period for which figures are available. [22218]

Mr Simon Burns: Information on the number of patient requests for funding for the use of Sativex which have been approved or refused by their local primary care trust (PCT) is not collected. However, information on the number of prescription items dispensed is held.

Of the 152 PCTs in England, in the period 2009-10, 116 issued prescription items for Sativex were dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. These are detailed in the following table.


9 Nov 2010 : Column 244W

9 Nov 2010 : Column 245W
Savitex prescriptions issued by PCTs in England, dispensed, in the community, in the UK , 2009-10
PCT Number

Ashton, Leigh and Wigan

1

Barnet

23

Bedfordshire

12

Berkshire East

13

Berkshire West

42

Bexley Care Trust

8

Blackpool

17

Bournemouth and Poole Teaching

12

Brent Teaching

1

Brighton and Hove City

21

Buckinghamshire

24

Calderdale

12

Cambridgeshire

15

Camden

4

Central and Eastern Cheshire

21

Central Lancashire

38

City and Hackney Teaching

12

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

7

County Durham

34

Coventry Teaching

12

Croydon

10

Cumbria Teaching

52

Darlington

3

Derby City

5

Derbyshire County

18

Devon

17

Dorset

48

Dudley

5

Ealing

12

East and North Hertfordshire

11

East Lancashire Teaching

10

East Riding of Yorkshire

2

Eastern and Coastal Kent

23

Gloucestershire

22

Great Yarmouth and Waveney

21

Greenwich Teaching

15

Halton and St Helens

9

Hammersmith and Fulham

5

Hampshire

72

Hastings and Rother

4

Havering

1

Herefordshire

17

Hillingdon

1

Hounslow

2

Hull Teaching

1

Isle of Wight

6

Islington

30

Kensington and Chelsea

33

Kirklees

1

Knowsley

3

Lambeth

13

Leeds

9

Leicester City

4

Leicestershire County and Rutland

19

Lewisham

9

Lincolnshire

26

Luton

8

Manchester

35

Mid Essex

31

Milton Keynes

14

Newcastle

2

Newham

8

Norfolk

34

North East Essex

16

North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus

3

North Lancashire Teaching

48

North Lincolnshire

2

North Staffordshire

22

North Tyneside

11

North Yorkshire and York

73

Northamptonshire Teaching

56

Northumberland Care Trust

38

Nottinghamshire County Teaching

13

Oxfordshire

17

Plymouth Teaching

3

Portsmouth City Teaching

19

Redbridge

2

Richmond and Twickenham

1

Sandwell

8

Sefton

4

Sheffield

25

Shropshire County

14

Solihull Care Trust

5

Somerset

1

South Birmingham

22

South East Essex

20

South Gloucestershire

17

South Staffordshire

32

South Tyneside

13

South West Essex

1

Southampton City

4

Stockport

4

Stoke on Trent

3

Suffolk

22

Sunderland Teaching

5

Surrey

73

Sutton and Merton

1

Swindon

1

Telford and Wrekin

15

Torbay Care Trust

8

Tower Hamlets

15

Trafford

1

Walsall Teaching

9

Waltham Forest

7

Wandsworth Teaching

5

Warrington

2

Warwickshire

7

West Essex

4

West Hertfordshire

35

West Kent

61

West Sussex

52

Western Cheshire

4

Wiltshire

2

Wirral

8

Wolverhampton City

24

Worcestershire

7

Not attributed to a PCT

1

Total

1,866

Source:
Prescribing Analysis and CosT tool (PACT) system.

NHS: Fraud

Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of cases relating to NHS staff were investigated by the NHS Counter Fraud Squad in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such cases resulted in prosecution. [22312]


9 Nov 2010 : Column 246W

Mr Simon Burns: The information is in the following tables:

 NHS Counter Fraud Service investigations opened in 2009-10

All investigations

482

Related to staff employed by the national health service

279


 Outcomes of investigations related to staff employed by the NHS

Prosecution and conviction

32

Unsuccessful prosecution

1

Non-criminal sanction or closed with no fraud found

147

Remaining open

99


NHS: Manpower

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of staff employed by the NHS who are provided with private health insurance as part of their remuneration package. [22662]

Mr Simon Burns: Private health insurance does not form part of the national terms and conditions of service for any national health service staff group. NHS employers may offer private health insurance to NHS staff as part of a locally determined reward package; information on this is not held centrally.

NHS: Negligence

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the present level of compensation for medical negligence in maternity cases is; and whether he plans to increase it. [22332]

Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) collects data by specialty. Although maternity is not listed as a specialty, obstetrics specialty data are collected. The total obstetrics damages paid out in 2009-10 was £238,970,055. The full data are available from the fact sheet (No. five) in the publication section of the NHSLA website:

The worksheet to use is "Payments made 09-10 Obstetrics".

The Government do not currently limit levels of compensation in medical negligence. The amount paid in compensation is determined by the courts, or is based on previous court rulings when settled by the parties concerned.

Organs: Donors

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ donors were registered in Dartford constituency (a) in each of the last five years and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [22330]


9 Nov 2010 : Column 247W

Anne Milton: The information requested is shown in the following table.

Number of registrations on the Organ Donor Register (ODR)

 Total on ODR at beginning of year New registrations during year Total on ODR at end of year

Dartford constituency

2005

12,248

1,471

13,719

2006

13,719

1,473

15,192

2007

15,192

1,282

16,474

2008

16,474

1,323

17,797

2009

17,797

1,385

19,182

2010

19,182

(1)1,290

(2)20,472

(1) Total number of new registrations in Dartford constituency for 2010 as at 3 November 2010.
(2) Total number of people on the Organ Donor Register (ODR) in Dartford constituency as at 3 November 2010.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on NHS charges for treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction; and if he will make a statement. [22331]

Mr Simon Burns: Patients presenting at a national health service dental practice would be liable for a band 1 charge of £16.50 for examination, diagnosis and referral if appropriate, unless they were exempt from charges. Any treatment provided in a primary care dental practice would be subject to a further dental charge but, if the patient was referred to a dental or medical specialist in secondary care the treatment would be free of charge.

The full list of charges can be found on the NHS Choices website at:

Primary Care Trusts

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which body will have jurisdiction over GP misconduct inquiries following the abolition of primary care trusts. [22514]

Anne Milton: The General Medical Council has responsibility for investigating the fitness to practise of doctors. That will not be affected by the abolition of primary care trusts (PCTs). PCTs have responsibility for managing admission, suspension and removal from Performers Lists. Where suspension or removal is considered but it is not a fitness to practise issue the PCT will initiate an investigation. Detailed arrangements for the management of Performers Lists following the abolition of PCTs are currently being considered by Ministers and departmental officials.

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he plans to put in place for the repayment of money owed by primary care trusts who are in deficit following their abolition. [22517]

Mr Simon Burns: The Department is working with the strategic health authorities to address circumstances where primary care trusts (PCTs) owe money, with the expectation that any deficits will be fully resolved by the end of 2012-13. The issue of PCTs deficits and debt will be covered in further detail in the NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12.


9 Nov 2010 : Column 248W

Social Workers: Training

Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on continuous professional development for social workers during their working time. [22313]

Paul Burstow: Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) is a requirement of professional registration and CPD is now an essential component of the regulated social work profession. The Social Work Reform Board will be advising Government on the continuing professional development of social workers as part of its wider programme of reforming social work in spring next year.

Tobacco: Sales

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what options for the permanent display of tobacco in shops which take into account (a) public health priorities and (b) burdens on business he has considered; and if he will make a statement. [22567]

Anne Milton: The Government are considering all the options around tobacco displays and will ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between public health priorities and burdens on business. It would be premature at this stage to offer details of options being considered.

Tuberculosis: Greater London

Mr Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis have been diagnosed in London in each of the last three years. [23048]

Anne Milton: The information requested is shown in the following table.

Number of cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in London, 2007-09
Resistant to any first line drug( 1)

Number of cases As a percentage of total cases( 2) Total( 2)

2007

162

9.2

1,762

2008

158

8.4

1,871

2009

192

10.5

1,826

(1) Resistant to at least one of the first line anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide).
(2) Culture confirmed tuberculosis cases with drug susceptibility testing results for at least isoniazid and rifampicin.
Source:
Health Protection Agency

Deputy Prime Minister

Asia-Europe Meeting

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the outcome was of his discussions at the Asia-Europe Meeting on 4 and 5 October 2010. [22017]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) provides an excellent opportunity for substantive discussions with key Asian and European partners representing 58% of the world's population and 50% of global gross domestic product.


9 Nov 2010 : Column 249W

In discussion at the summit, I set out the argument for global co-operation on fiscal reduction, international institutional reform and business-led growth in open markets during the discussion on global economic governance. I also discussed North Korea, Iran, the middle east and Burma and called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. These issues were reflected in the communiqué. The communiqué also sets out a high degree of agreement among the leaders on developing more effective global economic governance and sustainable development, as well as fighting terrorism and the co-ordination of disaster relief efforts.

In the margins of the summit I held bilateral meetings with leaders from Indonesia, Pakistan, Australia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam. I discussed a broad range of issues including the steps being taken by the UK Government to address the deficit and create growth, the Government's determination to boost trade in general and in particular relations with emerging markets. I also outlined UK expectations ahead of the G20 summit in November.

I also had meetings with European leaders, including those from the European Council and Commission, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. Issues discussed included security, EU budgets and economic stability in the eurozone.

Constituencies

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many representations his Department has received in favour of the proposal (a) for a cross-Solent parliamentary constituency and (b) that (i) one and (ii) two hon. Members represent the Isle of Wight. [22841]

Mr Harper: The Cabinet Office does not record correspondence in a way that would enable us to readily identify whether the authors were for or against particular issues.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent on hospitality for events he hosted in (a) September and (b) October 2010. [21794]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The cost of the Deputy Prime Minister's expenditure on hospitality will be made available at the end of the financial year once the Department's resource accounts have been fully audited and laid before Parliament.

Departmental Travel

Ian Austin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent on his official travel in (a) September and (b) October 2010. [21867]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The cost of the Deputy Prime Minister's overseas visits is published by the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis:


9 Nov 2010 : Column 250W

The total cost of his domestic travel will be made available at the end of the financial year once the Department's resource accounts have been fully audited and laid before Parliament.

Members: Correspondence

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West of 17 September 2010. [22645]

The Deputy Prime Minister: I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member's letter. My reply was sent on 5 November.

Social Mobility

Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect on levels of social mobility of the outcomes of the spending review. [22370]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The Government have set out a new programme of work for improving social mobility and will consider the impact of the spending review when developing their cross-governmental social mobility strategy. In particular, the 15 hours per week of free early years education to disadvantaged two-year-olds, the pupil premium and the National Scholarship Scheme are all specifically geared towards targeted support to children from lower income backgrounds. The social mobility strategy will be published this winter.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: East Ayrshire

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent civil service jobs are located in (a) East Ayrshire and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. [22636]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 5 November 2010:

Annex A: Civil service employment ; number of civil servants in East Ayrshire( 1) -All employees
31 March 2009 Full-time equivalent

Number of civil servants in East Ayrshire

510

(1) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Annual Civil Service Employment Survey

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Civil Servants: Labour Turnover

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the turnover among civil service staff was in each of the last three years. [22864]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 5 November 2010:

Annex A: Civil service employment-civil service turnover 2007, 2008 and 2009( 1) , all employees
Headcount

 Leavers Average 'staff in post'( 2) Estimated turnover rate (percentage)

2009(3)

39,010

524,790

7.4

2008(3)

50,770

528,490

9.6

2007(4)

45,630

542,690

8.4

(1) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Average 'staff in post' based on number of staff in post at the commencement and end of the survey reference period. (3) Survey reference date 31 March. (4) Survey reference date 30 September. Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.

Departmental Redundancy

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding to meet staff redundancy costs was identified in his Department's settlement letter in respect of the comprehensive spending review. [21511]

Mr Maude: All pressures on Departments' budgets were taken into account as part of the spending review and settlements were allocated accordingly. The full costs of redundancies will be met within the Cabinet Office's spending review resource DEL settlement.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department of staff redundancy in each of the next four years. [21513]

Mr Maude: No estimate of redundancy costs has been made at this stage.

Employment

Ms Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of all non-pensioner households are in employment in each region of the United Kingdom. [22099]


9 Nov 2010 : Column 252W

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2010:

Employment: Bexley

Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people in the London borough of Bexley who work in the (a) public and (b) private sector. [21755]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2010:

Jobseeker's Allowance: Wolverhampton

Mr McFadden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Wolverhampton South East constituency were on jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months in the latest period for which figures are available. [21762]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.


9 Nov 2010 : Column 253W

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2010:

Members: Correspondence

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West of 15 July 2010 and 16 August 2010 on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. [14883]

Mr Maude: I replied to the correspondence from the hon. Member regarding the Civil Service Compensation Scheme on 4 November. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Migration

Mr Carswell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes there have been in the net level of migration since May 2010. [22392]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2010:

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