Cataracts: Surgery
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cataract operations were carried out on NHS patients by the private sector in each year since 1996-97 for which figures are available. [54057]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table provided by the Information Centre for health and social care shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for cataract surgery performed by independent sector providers, commissioned by the national health service, for the years 2003-04 to 2009-10. Data are not available prior to 2003-04.
|
|
Total episodes (1) |
| (1) The figures do not represent the number of different patients, as the same person may be admitted on more than one occasion. Note: Changes to the figures over time should be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. | |
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Clinical Trials
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the level of equality in access to clinical trials; and what steps he is taking to increase access for certain patient groups. [53355]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not made any such assessment. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) provides health service infrastructure to support clinical trials and other well designed studies in the national health service in England. Currently 97% of NHS trusts are recruiting into NIHR CRN studies.
The Government are committed to opening up information about clinical trials so that patients can find out about trials that may be relevant to their condition. The NIHR is developing a web-based UK Clinical Trials Gateway. It will present, in accessible form, information about trials conducted in the United Kingdom. By 2012, the Gateway will make it easy for patients, their doctors and carers, friends and families to see what a trial is about, where it is taking place, and who is running it. It will help patients to join in clinical trials if they are suitable and choose to do so with full information and advice.
The NIHR encourages patients and the public to be actively involved in all NIHR-funded health and social care research. The NIHR funds Involve which promotes active public participation in NHS, public health and social care research to improve the way that research is prioritised, commissioned, undertaken, communicated and used.
Clostridium
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients treated for clostridium difficile who experience a recurrence of symptoms; what research he has evaluated on any link between recurrence and reinfection; and if he will make a statement. [53157]
Paul Burstow: Data on recurrences of clostridium difficile infection are not collected centrally. The symptoms of initial infection, recurrence of infection and re-infection is similar. Differentiation between recurrence of infection and re-infection requires culture and characterization of the causative strain(s) of clostridium difficile. This is not routinely undertaken, as diagnoses are often based on the detection of clostridium difficile toxins, rather than microbiological culture. However, studies typically show that approximately a quarter of individuals with clostridium difficile Infection experience a recurrence of their symptoms. In about half of these recurrences a different strain (ie re-infection) is the cause, with the others due to relapse from the original strain. The best solution is to prevent these infections by adhering to the Department of Health/Health Protection Agency guidance on managing this infection clostridium difficile infection: How to deal with the problem. A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1232006607827
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Dementia: Research
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will prioritise pre-clinical and basic research into cause, diagnosis and early stage treatment when allocating funding for research into dementia; [53252]
(2) whether he has any plans to reallocate dementia research funding between research bodies; [53253]
(3) what plans he has to take forward the work of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research after its conclusion. [53254]
Paul Burstow: Dementia is a research priority for the Government and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has issued a themed call on dementia. This call extends across the translational pathway, covering the fields of cause, cure and care, including prevention.
The importance the Government places on dementia research has been reflected by the formation of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research. This Group has now completed its work and produced a comprehensive set of proposals. These will be set out in a “Route Map for Dementia Research”, to be published after the summer recess.
The Department funds research through the NIHR and the Department's Policy Research programme. It is not responsible for other research funding bodies.
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in his Department. [52811]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department takes part in a number of schemes offering intern placements to students expressing an interest in working in government. The Summer Placement Scheme offers placements to those of different ethnic backgrounds and to those with disabilities. Last year, the Department had two summer interns from this programme. The Department also engages in an annual eight-week placement for NHS management trainees and last year we took on 10 trainees. There were also four student analysts and one finance, student awarded short-term contracts to help enhance their work experience and aid their academic studies. All are offered support prior to and after they arrive and feedback is provided on how well they performed during their time in the Department. Placements for these schemes are offered via universities, the national health service and the Cabinet Office which also provides a range of advice and attend career fairs to attract interest in working in government.
The Department has a work experience policy, which was published early this year. The policy sets out the criteria and processes that support setting up and managing work experience placements. Work experience placement requests are handled locally by managers in the Department.
The Department is not currently hosting any volunteers. The Department does have a policy of encouraging its own staff to engage in voluntary work outside the Department.
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John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students from (a) the UK and (b) Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in his Department since 8 May 2010. [53209]
Mr Simon Burns: Since 8 May 2010, the Department recruited four analyst students on one-year fixed-term contracts and one finance student on a two-month fixed- term contract. The Department also took part in the annual Cabinet Office cohort-led ethnic and disabled Summer Placement Schemes, recruiting two candidates to fulfil an eight-week placement.
The Department also engages in an annual eight- week placement for NHS management trainees. 10 national health service trainees worked in the Department during this time.
All of the placements were from the United Kingdom and our records show none lived in the Bassetlaw constituency.
General Practitioners: Telephone Services
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many 084 telephone numbers are in use by GP surgeries in (a) Hampshire and (b) Southampton. [52847]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally. The Department does not require primary care trusts to have a record of those practices using 084 numbers.
Health Professions: Education
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was allocated for nursing, midwifery and other allied health professional education in each region in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12; how much funding he expects to be so allocated in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [54084]
Anne Milton: Funding of education and training for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals is issued to strategic health authorities (SHAs) through the multi-professional education and training (MPET) budget. MPET is not ring-fenced by profession and it is the responsibility of SHAs to invest the budget to ensure the correct number of training places are available to meet the needs of the local population.
Health Professions: Higher Education
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places at each university in England there were for nursing, midwifery and other allied health professional education in (a) pre-registration education, (b) post-registration education, (c) continuing professional development in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; how many such places he expects there to be in (A) 2011-12, (B) 2012-13 and (C) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [54083]
Anne Milton:
Information on nursing, midwifery and allied health professional places at universities is not collected by the Department. It is the responsibility of
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strategic health authorities to individually manage contracts with higher education institutions based on local work force planning and education commissioning decisions.
Health Services: Equality
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage multi-disciplinary teams to undertake patient-level equality audits. [53356]
Paul Burstow: ‘Reducing cancer inequality: evidence, progress and making it happen’, the March 2010 report of the National Cancer Equality Initiative (NCEI), said that it would be good practice for multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) to undertake equality audits, reflecting annually on their practice and documenting their findings. It set out plans to support this. ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ (January 2011) said that patient characteristic profiles would be made available to MDTs and that, in future, MDT health equality audits would form part of the National Cancer Peer Review Programme.
The annual self-assessment for peer review, introduced this year, requires that MDTs answer the question “How many patients by equality characteristic (race, age and gender) were diagnosed/treated in the previous year?” as one of the MDT key themes covering the structure and function of the service.
Working with the National Cancer Intelligence Network and the National Cancer Action Team, NCEI is investigating what support might be provided to MDTs to undertake patient-level equality audits.
Health Services: Learning Disability
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Department for Education, (b) the Department for Communities and Local Government, (c) the Local Government Association and (d) other organisations on adaptation of policies and procedures used in children's services for use with adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement; [52856]
(2) what representations his Department has received on the adaptation of policies and procedures used in children's services for use with adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement; [52857]
(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that policies and procedures used in children's services are adequately adapted for use with adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement; [52858]
(4) what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) assess the adaptation of policies and procedures used in children's services for use with adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [52881]
Paul Burstow:
Following the publication of Professor Mansell's report ‘Raising Our Sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities’ which was commissioned by this Department, departmental officials have had general discussions with key partners,
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including the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Communities and Local Government, regarding the report's recommendations. However, no discussion has taken place on the specific issue about adaptation of policies and procedures used in children's services for use with adults who have profound and multiple learning disabilities. Neither have we received any representations on this issue.
Departmental officials have worked closely with DfE officials to build the learning from the Valuing People Now employment work in to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Green Paper ‘Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability’. The Green Paper focuses on improving employment and other life outcomes and takes forward learning from the Getting a Life project—aimed at young people with severe learning disabilities leaving education.
4 May 2011 : Column 850W
The Government's response to Professor Mansell's report highlighted our commitment to improving outcomes for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Health Services: Oxfordshire
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) medical and (b) non-medical staff were employed by (i) John Radcliffe hospital, (iii) NHS Oxfordshire primary care trust and (iii) the NHS in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years. [52844]
Mr Simon Burns: The number of medical and non-medical staff employed by John Radcliffe hospital and Oxfordshire primary care trust (PCT) and the national health service in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:
Health Services: Staffordshire
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bowel cancer screening appointments are outstanding at University Hospital North Staffordshire; what recent estimate has been made of average (a) waiting times and (b) times taken for results to be processed in respect of such appointments; and if he will make a statement. [52984]
Paul Burstow: The information is not held by the Department in the format requested. More information on the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme can be found on the website at:
www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/index.html
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is available for (a) hip and (b) knee replacement operations at University Hospital North Staffordshire. [52985]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not centrally collected. It is the responsibility of the local national health service to assess the effectiveness of the services it provides and ensure that appropriate services are accessible to its local population.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staffing establishment is for each grade of health professional in maternity services at University Hospital North Staffordshire; what the current vacancy list is; what assessment has been made of future resourcing needs; and if he will make a statement. [52986]
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Mr Simon Burns: This information is not available in the format requested.
The number of medical staff in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialty and non-medical maternity services staff in the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust as at 30 September 2010 is shown in the following table.
|
|
Headcount |
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust reported one vacancy for a consultant in the obstetrics and gynaecology specialty, and no vacancies for midwives in the March 2010 vacancies survey. The vacancies survey does not isolate any other obstetrics and gynaecology staff or non-medical maternity services staff. March 2010 is the latest available vacancy data.
It is the responsibility of local national health service organisations to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their local population, based on clinical need and sound evidence.
Hospitals: Closures
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent NHS hospitals from closing. [52990]
Mr Simon Burns: We are taking the opportunity of a natural break in the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill to pause, listen, reflect and improve.
We will hold a series of events, led by the NHS Future Forum, to hear from the public, patients and a range of people working right at the frontline, and speak directly to those who lead our national health service,
Public accountability and patient involvement is one of the four areas we are focusing on during the Listening Exercise. We want to ensure we make the NHS properly accountable to the public, and put patient involvement at the heart of decision making. We will then decide how to take forward the Bill in a way that reflects what we have heard.
Under the proposals currently set out in the Health and Social Care Bill, commissioners would remain responsible for securing continued provision of NHS
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services to meet the needs of their populations. We are proposing to support commissioners in this by introducing a comprehensive system of regulation at national level and additional regulation of ‘designated services’.
Commissioners would consult with local communities and apply for local services to be ‘designated’, as subject to additional regulation, where the withdrawal of those services would impact adversely on health and where there are no alternative providers. This would ensure patients in England have continued access to designated services, wherever they happen to live.
Low Associates
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he and (b) any other representative of the Department has hosted any meeting with (i) Low Associates and (ii) any client of Low Associates in the last six months. [53137]
Mr Simon Burns: Neither the Secretary of State for Health or any of his ministerial colleagues have had any meetings with Low Associates. My right hon. Friend has formally declared his wife's position as managing director of Low Associates to the permanent secretary (which was subsequently included in the List of Ministers' Interests published on the Cabinet Office website) and taken appropriate steps to avoid any conflict of interest with his ministerial duties. All ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the Department's website.
It would incur disproportionate cost to check whether any officials from the Department have met with Low Associates. The Department does not hold details of Low Associates clients.
Medical Equipment: Counterfeit Manufacturing
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information his Department holds on the safety of counterfeit pulse oximeter sensors found in NHS hospitals; [52895]
(2) what steps are being taken to withdraw counterfeit pulse oximeter sensors which have been found in NHS hospitals; [52914]
(3) how many counterfeit items of medical equipment have been found in NHS hospitals in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [52915]
(4) what communication the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received from other EU countries on the circulation of counterfeit medical equipment to hospitals; [52916]
(5) pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 666W, on medical equipment: counterfeit manufacturing, whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received any recent reports of counterfeit pulse oximeter sensors that have been found to be unsafe. [53186]
Mr Simon Burns:
We hold no information on the accuracy and safety of the counterfeit devices in question, as they have not been validated through the genuine manufacturers' conformity assessment procedures. All
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such devices should be quarantined and returned to the manufacturer of the genuine product for authentication.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a Medical Devices Alert to all national health service trusts which requests withdrawal of these counterfeit devices from NHS hospitals and their return to the manufacturers of the legitimate products and that MHRA are informed.
The number of counterfeit medical devices that have been found to have reached the NHS supply chain in the last three years is as follows:
|
|
Number |
| (1) The 2009 figure consists of a single large seizure of a high volume consumable device which could distort the overall extent of the problem. | |
Under the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EC, member states are required to share information on serious incidents and recalls of medical devices with other member states where the products are marketed. Administrative systems also exist to exchange information, liaise and collaborate with other member states on compliance matters including instances of counterfeit medical equipment found in the supply chain.
No recent reports have been made to the MHRA of counterfeit pulse oximeter sensors having been found to be unsafe.
Mental Illness
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) England, (b) Newham and (c) West Ham constituency were diagnosed with a mental illness in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011 to date. [53324]
Paul Burstow: The information is not collected in the format requested. The following table shows the number of finished consultant episodes for the most recent periods available. Figures are broken down to primary care trust (PCT) populations and cannot be separated out further.
| Number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a mental health primary diagnosis (ICD-10 codes F00-F99) by year | ||||
|
|
2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care | ||||
Neurological Conditions: Health Services
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the location is of each NHS specialist neurological unit. [52947]
Paul Burstow: Information on the location of each specialist neurological unit is not collected centrally.
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NHS: Complaints
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of complaints referred to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman were upheld in the latest period for which figures are available. [52835]
Mr Simon Burns: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent of both the Department and the Government and it is therefore not usually appropriate for officials and Ministers to answer on behalf of the PHSO.
However, in these circumstances the information is available in the public domain and can be provided.
The most recent data that have been published are for 2009-10. Those were published in the PHSO's annual report (Listening and Learning the Ombudsman's review of complaint handling in the NHS 2009-10).
In 2009-10, PHSO received 14,429 health complaints.
In 2009-10, PHSO reported on 180 investigation complaints, of which 113 (63%) were upheld.
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken to complete an independent investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman was in the latest period for which figures are available. [52836]
Mr Simon Burns: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent of both the Department and the Government and it is therefore not usually appropriate for officials and Ministers to answer on behalf of the PHSO.
However, in these circumstances the information is available in the public domain and can be provided.
In 2009-10, the PHSO set a target to conclude 55%, of all investigations within 12 months. This includes both health and parliamentary investigations.
In 2009-10, the PHSO concluded 65%, of investigations (health and parliamentary) within 12 months.
The target for 2010-11 is to complete 90% of investigations within 12 months.
NHS: Manpower
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of NHS staff in England were doctors in (a) 1981, (b) 1990, (c) 2000 and (d) 2010; [53220]
(2) how many nurses worked in the NHS in England in (a) 1981, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1995, (e) 2000, (f) 2005 and (g) 2010; [53221]
(3) what proportion of NHS staff in England were nurses in (a) 1981, (b) 1990, (c) 2000 and (d) 2010; [53222]
(4) how many doctors worked in the NHS in England in the years (a) 1981, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1995, (e) 2000, (f) 2005 and (g) 2010. [53223]
Mr Simon Burns:
Comparable figures for all national health service staff numbers are not available for 1981, 1985 and 1990. Prior to 1995 the NHS workforce was
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monitored on an entirely different basis relating to pay scales which would result in the information captured for Medical and Dental and Non-Medical Hospital and Community Health Services staff (the majority of NHS) not being comparable to the data collected since then.
Because of this step-change in how the data were recorded and collected it has been standard practice not to provide time series on the NHS workforce that predate the 1995 improvements to methodology as these figures are confusing and do not represent a fair or accurate figure.
The following table gives the number of staff employed in the specialities requested in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients receiving NHS treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma in England per head of the population in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [52774]
Paul Burstow:
No assessment has been made of the number of patients receiving national health service treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in England per head of population as information is not collected in this format. Information regarding finished consultant
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episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from 2005-06 to 2009-10 is provided in the following table.
We know that in 2008, there were just over 9,000 newly diagnosed cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” (January 2011) set out a range of measures to improve outcomes for all patients, including those diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The strategy is backed by more than £750 million over the next four years. It sets out our plans to improve earlier diagnosis, access to screening, treatment, patients' experience of care and the quality of life for cancer survivors.
| Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |
|
|
Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) |
| Notes: 1. FCE: A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. Data quality: The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. ICD-10 codes used for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: C82—Follicular (nodular) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma C83—Diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma C85—Other and unspecified types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 3. Assessing growth through time: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 4. Activity included: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. 5. Source statement: Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the list of specified conditions that qualify patients for a medical exemption certificate. [52703]
Mr Simon Burns: In 2009, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore carried out a review to consider how to extend free prescriptions to all those with long-term conditions. This review made a number of proposals, and was published in May 2010 by the Government.
We announced in the spending review that to ensure spending in the national health service is focused on priorities, some programmes announced by the previous Government would not be implemented—including proposals to extend free prescriptions to all those with long-term conditions.
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We are continuing to explore options for reforming the current prescription charging arrangements taking into account the financial context. We have no current plans for a further review of prescription charges.
Prosthetics
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in England with lost limbs in the latest period for which figures are available. [52709]
Paul Burstow: Central data are not collected about the numbers of people with limb loss, although data provided through the Hospital Episodes Statistics show that nearly 6,000 finished consultant episodes recorded limb amputation during 2009-10.
Information gathered in 2008, involving voluntary organisations, estimated there are about 60,000 people with prostheses and about 10,000 of them have upper limb prostheses.
St Helens and Whiston Hospital Trust
Mr Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the details of the proposed tripartite agreement between St Helens and Whiston Hospital Trust, the strategic health authority and his Department which outlines the options to deal with that trust's budget deficit. [52718]
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Mr Simon Burns: Tripartite formal agreements (TFAs) are an integral part of ensuring that all national health service trusts submit an application for foundation trust (FT) status to the Department by 1 April 2013 in their own right, or another solution is identified and implemented so that they achieve FT status by 1 April 2014.
The agreements will identify the issues each NHS trust faces and the actions that will establish them as sustainable providers of high quality health care services. These developments will enable them to meet the demanding requirements needed to achieve FT status.
Work on the TFA between St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust, North West Strategic Health Authority and the Department has not yet been completed. When it has been finalised and the agreement has been signed by all parties, the trust will publish the agreement on their website.
Tobacco: EU Law
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's response to the consultation on the possible revision of the Tobacco Products Directive. [53160]
Anne Milton: The Government's response to the European Commission's consultation on the possible revision to the European Union tobacco products directive has been placed in the Library.