Senior Civil Servants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many senior civil servants left his Department and its public bodies in each month since May 2010; what their names are; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants in his Department was during this period; and if he will make a statement. [96255]
Robert Neill: As part of the spending review settlement, the DCLG Group is making a collective 33% real terms saving against its running costs by 2014-15. This equates to savings of over £200 million by 2014-15. In addition, the Department will save a further £190 million from the closure of the Government offices for the regions, taking overall savings on administrative running costs to 42% across the DCLG Group by 2014-15.
These savings reflect the coalition Government's agenda of decentralisation, ending the micromanagement of local government, the abolition of regional government, and the broader need to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration.
This has entailed a streamlining of the Department; that restructuring was undertaken in an open, fair and prompt way, starting at the highest levels of senior management. A total of 46 senior civil servants have left the Department for Communities and Local Government in the period 1 May 2010 to 31 January 2011.
The breakdown of these individuals by month is as follows:
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| Number of senior civil servants leaving in month | |
Please note in addition to the 46 senior civil servants who left the Department for Communities and Local Government in the reference period, an additional 20 senior civil servants employed by the Department, but based in the Government Office for the regions, left the Government office for the regions directly or the Department after subsequently transferring in. They have not been included in the 46 figure above.
For reasons of personal privacy, it would not be appropriate to provide the names of senior civil servants who are no longer in government employment.
The turnover rate of senior civil servants in the Department for Communities and Local Government in this period has been calculated at 43.4%.
The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold the information requested for its public bodies centrally.
Fire Services
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the support available for employers of on-call retained firefighters. [97458]
Robert Neill: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss a range of matters.
Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for engagement with local employers. My Department has produced the Retained Duty System Employers' Information Toolkit to support fire and rescue authorities in engaging with local employers in raising awareness about the duty system, and encouraging their support to release staff
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to become retained duty firefighters. The Department has also produced the Recognition Scheme for Primary Employers of Retained Duty System (On-Call) Firefighters, to recognise employers who have agreed to make staff available for retained duty system service.
First-Time Buyers: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many first-time buyers in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley participated in part-buy part-rent housing schemes in each of the last five years. [96427]
Grant Shapps: This information is collected only in respect of sales by private registered providers and is not available for other organisations such as local authorities or developers.
Information on the sales of social housing made by the private registered providers is collected via the Continuous Recording (CORE) Sales log. Information is collected on the type of product through which the property was sold. Shared ownership products—where the purchaser owns a share of the property and pays rent on the remainder—are normally offered to people who are first-time buyers.
The following table gives the number of private registered provider sales through shared ownership schemes over the past five years in the London borough of Bexley:
| Number of shared ownership sales | |
| Source: CORE sales log. Prior to 2010-11 CORE was only completed by private registered providers with more than 250 units of stock. | |
Figures are not available at constituency level.
More generally and in addition to shared ownership homes, our FirstBuy equity loan scheme will help almost 10,500 aspiring home owners by spring 2013. Government and 100 house builders are providing £400 million to help first-time buyers buy a new build property in England, with a 20% equity loan which reduces the deposit needed to just 5%.
Housing: Energy
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps his Department is taking to encourage developers to design more energy efficient homes; [95483]
(2) what steps he is taking to promote energy efficiency in (a) new housing, (b) existing housing and (c) houses of multiple occupancy. [95484]
Andrew Stunell: The Carbon Plan, published in December 2011, sets out what the Government are doing to ensure that housing makes its full contribution to meeting the first four carbon budgets and the 2050 carbon reduction target. This includes:
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(a) a commitment that all new homes constructed to the 2016 Building Regulations in England must meet a ‘zero carbon’ standard, which will include a specific fabric energy efficiency standard. Proposals to introduce this energy efficiency target for new housing from 2013 were published on 31 January 2012. Local authorities can already use the Code for Sustainable Homes if they wish to secure higher levels of energy efficiency in new homes in their area. The Government require that all new social housing funded by the Homes and Community Agency is built to Code level 3.
(b) The launch of the Green Deal in late 2012 to help existing homes of all tenures to improve their energy efficiency at no upfront cost, to be paid for instead through the resulting fuel cost savings, via a charge on fuel bills. This will be supported by a range of measures to stimulate demand for the Green Deal in all tenures, including proposals to use the Building Regulations to trigger a requirement for additional energy efficiency improvements where specified works are planned and Green Deal finance is available as an option to cover the upfront cost to householders.
(c) Government will work with the private rented sector (including houses in multiple occupation) to encourage uptake of energy efficiency measures through the Green Deal. From 2016 private landlords will not be able to unreasonably refuse their tenants' requests for consent to energy efficiency improvements. The Energy Act 2011 contains provisions for a minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented housing from 2018. Use of these regulation making powers is conditional on there being no net or up-front costs to landlords. If these powers were used, landlords would be required to reach the minimum standard or carry out the maximum package of measures fundable under the Green Deal and energy company obligation.
Housing: Repairs and Maintenance
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of private homes in England which are in urgent need of home repairs for reasons of (a) crime prevention and (b) electrical or gas safety; and what assessment he has made of the effect that changes in his Department's financial settlement to local government have had on the ability of local authorities to make payments to householders in respect of such repairs. [97326]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 29 February 2012]: The English Housing Survey estimated that in 2009 21% of all dwellings in England had a serious ‘Category 1’ hazard, under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. For privately owned dwellings the figure was 22.8%, or 4.2 million homes. Category 1 hazards include a risk of entry by intruders, and risks related to gas and electrical safety, along with other risks such as excess cold.
It is for local authorities to decide the circumstances in which to give discretionary assistance to householders, what form that assistance may take (e.g. grants, loans, equity release schemes etc.) and what, if any, conditions to attach. Local authorities also have powers, under the Housing Act 2004, to assess the risks and hazards in residential properties using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. If a property is found to contain serious (Category 1) hazards, the local authority has a duty to take the most appropriate action. This could range from trying to deal with the problems informally at first to prohibiting the use of the whole or part of the dwelling.
In 2010-11, The Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix showed that 48,600 private sector dwellings with Housing Health and Safety Rating System Category 1 hazards
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were made free from hazards as a result of action by local authorities. That action could include financial assistance, advice, and enforcement action.
I would add that my Department is providing £1.6 billion of funding over the spending review period to help councils ensure council housing meets the Decent Homes standard.
Legal Aid Scheme
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on external legal advice since May 2010. [R] [95985]
Robert Neill [holding answer 23 February 2012]: The departmental spend on external legal services (which is broader than spending on legal advice) from 7 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 was £2,260,000 and from 1 April 2011 to 31 January 2012 was £1,679,000. This spending includes litigation fees paid to the Treasury Solicitors Department, counsel and solicitors’ fees for legal advice, and payments to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.
As I have indicated in previous answers to the right hon. Member, the comparable spend in 2009-10 was £4.8 million. I also refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 483W, which outlines the number of open cases open at any one time and the nature of Government litigation, reflecting the Department's quasi-judicial functions.
Details of all expenditure over £500 are published, each month, on the Department's website. Legal advice is coded under ‘Legal Consultancy’ and ‘Legal Fees’:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparency ingovernment/spenddata/
Local Government: Disability
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with representatives of local authorities on the statutory responsibilities of those authorities in respect of equal access to services by people with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [95760]
Andrew Stunell: The Government recognise the importance of ensuring equal access to services for people with learning disabilities and encourages their involvement in service planning and design.
Under the Public Sector Equality Duty, councils are required to understand how different people will be affected by their services, so those services meet the needs of their communities. It is up to individual authorities to decide how to do this. The Best Value Duty requires local authorities to consult(1) representatives of a wide range of local persons, including those who use or are likely to use services provided by the authority.
My officials have had discussions with a wide range of external partners, including representatives of local authorities to consider how the provision of Changing Places toilets might be improved on a voluntary basis. These toilets provide extra facilities for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
(1) The duty to consult is contained in section 3(2) of the Local Government Act 1999.
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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Government Procurement Card
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Burton of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 483W, on freedom of information, whether his Department holds receipts or invoices associated with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Government Procurement Card transactions in respect of Mr Chu's China Palace restaurant. [81609]
Robert Neill: The available records for the transaction made in 2006 have been placed in the Library of the House. It has not been possible to identify records relating to the transaction made in 2004. Certain details, including details of other transactions, names of members of staff below the senior civil service, and card and account numbers have been redacted for reasons of personal data protection and safeguarding security.
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 483W, on freedom of information, whether his Department still holds any receipts or invoices associated with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Government Procurement Card transactions at (a) Star City Pty Ltd for £456.03, (b) Doyles Seafood Quay for £457.94 and £37.46 and (c) Sydney Aquarium for £74.63. [81649]
Robert Neill: It has not been possible to identify from departmental archives the individual receipts or invoices still held relating to these transactions.
However, as the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my noble Friend, Baroness Hanham, remarked on 17 January 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA122, Ministers in this Administration are of the view that such transactions—which are all associated with the visit of Lord Prescott when Deputy Prime Minister—did not represent value for money for the taxpayer.
Health
Departmental Regulation
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on the Red Tape Challenge; and which regulations have been (a) abolished and (b) revised as part of the Challenge. [97236]
Mr Simon Burns: To date, of over 1,200 regulations considered so far under Red Tape Challenge, the Government have agreed to scrap or substantially overhaul well over 50%.
The Red Tape Challenge reforms made, or about to be made, so far across all Departments are set out in the Government's latest Statement of New Regulation published on 28 February 2012. Many further changes will be announced and implemented in the coming months.
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Diabetes: Leicester
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with diabetes in Leicester primary care trust area did not receive the nine healthcare checks recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines in 2011. [97332]
Paul Burstow:
The full data set requested is not available. Participation in the National Diabetes Audit
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(NDA), which audits diabetes registrations in primary and secondary care, is not mandatory. The following table is drawn from the 2009-10 NDA dataset and shows the total number of registrations and the number of registrations where all nine care processes recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have not taken, place, for Leicestershire primary care trusts (PCTs) and nationally:
| Total registrations where all nine care processes have not been completed | |||
| PCT | Total registrations in national diabetes audit | Number | Percentage |
Diseases
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish a public consultation on the UK rare disease plan. [97259]
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the draft UK rare disease plan; and what the reason is for the time taken for its publication. [97260]
Mr Simon Burns: The consultation on the UK Plan for Rare Diseases is being produced jointly by the four nations of the United Kingdom. It has been important for the document to accurately capture and reflect the subtle differences in the health care systems of each country. This has taken some time. However, the consultation was launched on 29 February 2012 for a 12 week public consultation.
Drugs: Delivery Services
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department monitors the number of emergency direct deliveries made by medicines manufacturers to pharmacies in England. [97189]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not monitor the number of emergency deliveries made by medicine manufacturers to pharmacies.
Health Services: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Bexley were registered with (i) a GP and (ii) an NHS dentist in each of the last five years. [97147]
Mr Simon Burns: Figures for the number of patients registered with general practitioners (GPs) are not available by parliamentary constituency or London borough. The following table shows the number of patient registrations at GP practices in the Bexley primary care trust area in each of the five most recent years for which figures are available.
| Number | |
| Source: NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care Genera and Personal Medical Services Statistics | |
The information for dental patient registrations is not available in the format requested. Under the current dental contractual arrangements, patients do not have to be registered with a national health service dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to ‘registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services (‘patients seen’) over a 24 month period.
The following table shows the number of patients seen by an NHS dentist in Bexley primary care trust area in the five most recent 24-month periods for which figures are available.
| 24 month end date | Patients seen |
| Source: NHS Dental Statistics for England—2011-12 | |
Health: Screening
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the participation of private providers in the delivery of the NHS Healthchecks programme. [97650]
Paul Burstow:
Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning the services necessary to deliver the NHS Health Check programme in a way that meets the
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needs of their local population. They will choose different providers to deliver the checks depending on the characteristics of their local population. No assessment has been made of the participation of private providers in the delivery of the NHS Health Check programme.
HIV Infection
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the role of private sector companies in identifying and supporting new ways to prevent and treat HIV in (a) the UK and (b) developing countries. [96741]
Paul Burstow: The Department welcomes the role that private and third sector organisations play in identifying and supporting new ways to prevent and treat HIV in the United Kingdom and developing countries. This includes welcoming the work of organisations like Gilead Sciences Ltd, and their Halve It coalition, which is working to reduce undiagnosed and late diagnosis of HIV.
Internationally, the Government are supporting the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) to develop microbicides. The UK Government also supported the establishment of the Medicines Patent Pool through our contributions to UNITAID. This has the potential to support access to more appropriate and affordable anti-retrovirals (ARVs) in developing countries by setting incentives for product adaptation and generic production.
The UK continues to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to engage actively with the Medicines Patent Pool to support the availability of ARVs in order to help achieve the internationally agreed target to increase coverage of life saving treatment to reach 15 million people with HIV by 2015.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the development of paediatric formulations to address unmet needs for children living with HIV in (a) the UK and (b) developing countries. [96742]
Paul Burstow: The Department has made no such assessments. In the United Kingdom, clinicians provide HIV paediatric treatment and care in line with European guidelines supported by the British Children's HIV Association.
The choice of drugs is a clinical decision and depends on available formulations suitable for the individual child, taking into consideration age, developmental level and carer circumstances. It is up to manufacturers to decide to develop, paediatric formulations of medicines.
The UK Government are supporting research on the delivery of antiretroviral therapy to children in Africa. In partnership with the private sector, this has included assessing the acceptability of different paediatric formulations of antiretroviral therapy.
Mesothelioma: Research
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to research on mesothelioma in the current spending cycle. [97511]
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Mr Simon Burns: No specific funding has been allocated for research into mesothelioma in the current spending review period. The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics; research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including mesothelioma. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting four studies in mesothelioma that are recruiting patients. Details can be found on the UK CRN portfolio database at:
http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/Search/Portfolio.aspx?Level1= 1&Level2=8&Level3=27&Status=34
The NIHR is currently working with the British Lung Foundation on building capacity for research into mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts prescribed the Tysabri form of the drug natalizumab between December 2009 and January 2012; and what quantity was prescribed by each such trust. [97206]
Mr Simon Burns: Natalizumab (Tysabri) is licensed for use in patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis despite treatment with interferon beta or those with rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The British National Formulary states that treatment should be initiated and supervised by a specialist. Therefore, natalizumab is used mainly in secondary care.
The latest information available from the Prescribing Analysis and CosT tool system indicates that. Tysabri has been prescribed once in primary care between October 2011 and December 2011, As there might be a data protection issue with releasing information where the drug has only been prescribed once, we have not named the primary care trust.
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts prescribed the Fampyra form of the drug fampridine between October 2011 and January 2012; and what quantity was prescribed by each such trust. [97207]
Mr Simon Burns: Fampridine (Fampyra) is licensed for use in multiple sclerosis to improve walking in patients who have a walking disability and treatment is usually initiated and supervised by a specialist doctor experienced in the management of multiple sclerosis. Therefore, fampridine is used mainly in secondary care.
The latest information available from the Prescribing Analysis and CosT tool system indicates that fampridine has been prescribed once in primary care between October 2011 and December 2011. As there might be a data
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protection issue with releasing information where the drug has only been prescribed once, we have not named the primary care trust.
NHS: Drugs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will conduct an impact assessment of the financial effects of branded medicine shortages on medicines (a) pharmacy, (b) wholesale and (c) manufacturing businesses. [97169]
Mr Simon Burns: While we have not conducted an impact assessment of the financial effects of branded medicine supply issues, recognition has been made in the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework funding for extra time that pharmacy staff spend sourcing medicines.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has sought advice on the legal standing of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee list of medicines in short supply; and if he will publish any such advice. [97190]
Mr Simon Burns: The joint best practice guidance refers to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee's (PSNC) Branded Shortages List. This published list ensures that all pharmacies and wholesalers are aware of the latest supply position. This list is a matter for the PSNC.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the review and consolidation of medicines legislation in the UK will include measures to strengthen regulations governing the continuous supply of branded medicines to patients. [97191]
Mr Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) project to consolidate and review medicines legislation brings together existing and complex medicines legislation, and takes the opportunity to rationalise the legislation to improve the coherence of the regulatory framework.
The legislation consolidates the existing requirement for the maintenance of appropriate and continued supply of medicinal products by marketing authorisation holders and distributors so that the needs of patients are met. We have carried out a consultation (our ref MLX 375) which closed in January on a proposed text of the consolidation and are currently assessing the responses. We are not proposing any change in the area of continued supply of medicine under Article 81 of Directive 2001/83/EC and, to date, nothing has come up in our assessment of responses which indicates that a change is necessary.
The Department, the MHRA and pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders are working collaboratively to better understand and mitigate the impact of supply difficulties to ensure that patients receive the medicines they need. In February 2011 the group published joint guidance, “Best Practice for Ensuring the Efficient Supply and Distribution of Medicines to Patients”.
The guidance provides a sound basis for helping to ensure that patients get their medicines when they need them.
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Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that drugs discovered and developed by British scientists are accessible by patients within the UK. [97201]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are committed to ensuring that national health service patients are able to access the clinically and cost-effective drugs that their doctors consider are appropriate for them.
We also want to see more drugs and medical technologies developed in the United Kingdom for the benefit of UK patients.
The Government's ‘Strategy for UK Life Sciences’ sets out how we will support closer collaboration between the NHS, industry and universities, driving growth in the economy and improvements in the NHS.
We will ensure that the NHS realises its role as an engine for innovation by developing the package of proposals to support the adoption and diffusion of innovation set out in the NHS Chief Executive's review—‘Innovation, health and wealth, accelerating adoption and diffusion in the NHS’.
We are also working to put in place a new framework for medicines pricing, to include value-based pricing for new medicines. Value-based pricing will give NHS patients better access to effective and innovative treatments, at a price that delivers value to the NHS. The new medicines pricing system will be introduced from January 2014, following the end of the 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) individuals and (b) businesses have faced legal, regulatory or professional sanctions for not abiding by his Department's Guidance on Best practice for ensuring the efficient supply and distribution of medicines to patients. [97251]
Mr Simon Burns: The joint best practice guidance is not legally enforceable. However, the Department continues to work collaboratively with supply chain stakeholders to deal with implementation issues and to ensure that patients can continue to obtain their prescription medicines quickly and conveniently.
NHS: Repairs and Maintenance
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of maintenance backlogs was in the NHS in each financial year since 2006-07. [97518]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Total backlog maintenance (£ million) | |
Backlog maintenance is the amount of investment needed to bring the estate up to a satisfactory standard. It is reduced through either capital investment or the disposal of the estate.
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The Department collects data on backlog maintenance annually from the national health service trusts through its Estates Returns Information Collection. The data collected has not been amended centrally and its accuracy always remains the responsibility of the contributing NHS organisations.
NHS organisations are locally responsible for the provision and maintenance of their facilities. This includes planning and investment to reduce backlog maintenance.
Organs: Donors
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of organ donors. [97409]
Mr Simon Burns: Since the publication of the report by the Organ Donation Taskforce in 2008, a great deal of work has taken place to strengthen the donation programme and increase the number of organs available for patients. People may sign up to the Organ Donor Register when they register with a new general practitioner; when applying for a new passport; when applying for a European Health Insurance Card, a Boots advantage card or a driving licence. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) also publicises the need for more people to register as donors through public awareness campaigns, on their organ donation website and on their national helpline.
There are now over 200 highly trained Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation based in hospitals across the country and NHSBT is continuing to train and recruit more staff into this vital role. Clinical Leads for Organ Donation have also been appointed in every acute hospital working closely with hospital Organ Donation Committees to increase donation rates.
A Transitional Steering Group (TSG), chaired by Chris Rudge, has also been established to help maintain the momentum. The TSG will be focusing on the six big wins—optimising deceased donation rates through undertaking brainstem death testing and considering donation after cardiac death in all appropriate circumstances, increasing consent rates, increasing donation from emergency medicine, timely referral of donors and better donor management.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of a system under which people would need to opt-out of being an organ donor. [97410]
Mr Simon Burns: The Organ Donation Taskforce examined the case for moving to an opt-out system in 2008. They recommended against it, concluding that while such a system might have the potential to deliver benefits, it would present significant difficulties.
Action is being taken to strengthen the donation programme and we are seeing significant improvement in donor rates. We need to give time for these improvements to be worked through fully and assess their success before looking to change the system further.
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Pregnancy: Counselling
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the views and expertise of professional health bodies are gathered during its forthcoming consultation on pregnancy choices counselling; [97265]
(2) what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the views of women are gathered during its forthcoming public consultation on pregnancy choices counselling. [97266]
Paul Burstow: The forthcoming public consultation on pregnancy counselling will be open and anyone will be able to contribute. It will canvass views from a wide range of health professionals and the public, so that their responses can then inform the Government on future policy and any subsequent regulations on this issue.
The public consultation will take place over a period of 12 weeks and a notice of commencement together with a closing date will be posted on the Department's web site.
The views of professional health bodies are crucial and the Department will contact key external partners to obtain their views on this issue. We also welcome the views of women particularly those who have considered or undergone an abortion or considered this option.
Prescription Drugs
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure that the demand for prescription medications is met. [97200]
Mr Simon Burns: There are existing legal duties on manufacturers and distributors to ensure appropriate and continued supplies of medicines to pharmacies within the limits of their responsibilities, so that the needs of patients are met. The Department continues to work closely with supply chain stakeholders to ensure patients receive the medicines they need.
Streptococcus: Screening
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on the compulsory screening of pregnant women for group B streptococcus in Northern Ireland; [97416]
(2) what consideration he has given to the compulsory screening of pregnant women for group B streptococcus. [97417]
Paul Burstow: Ministers in this Department have not had any direct discussion with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive regarding introducing a national screening programme for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy in Northern Ireland.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for GBS
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carriage in pregnancy. The UK NSC is currently reviewing the evidence for screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy against its criteria. A public consultation on the screening review will open in spring 2012.
Transplant Surgery
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish an international conference of countries with high levels of organ transplantation to consider ways in which the number of organs available for transplantation can be increased. [97171]
Mr Simon Burns: The Organ Donation Taskforce looked at successful donation programmes, particularly from Spain and the United States of America, in preparing its Report and recommendations in 2008. Drawing on this, implementation in the United Kingdom has focused on strengthening the donation infrastructure. In addition, the European Commission meets regularly with member states, including the UK, as part of a six year (2009-15) Action Plan to identify how the number of donated organs for transplant can be increased across the European Union looking at international evidence of success within and. outside the EU.
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will consider re-establishing the Organ Donation Taskforce to consider how the implementation of its recommendations to increase availability of organ donation for transplantation can be built on; [97172]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the Organ Donation Taskforce in increasing the availability of organs for transplantation. [97173]
Mr Simon Burns:
Since the publication of the Organ Donation Taskforce report in 2008, good progress has
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been made with donor rates having increased by some 31% and continuing to rise. In order to maintain progress, we have established a Transitional Steering Group (TSG), chaired by Chris Rudge, the former National Clinical Director for Transplantation. The TSG will support action up to 2013 at national, regional and local levels focusing work on increasing consent rates and optimising donation in all appropriate circumstances. A post 2013 plan is being developed by NHS Blood and Transplant to support the momentum for improvement and it is likely former Organ Donation Taskforce members will be asked to contribute to the development of the future work programme.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with transplant surgeons on the quality of organs available for transplant; and what plans he has to encourage more donations from people after brain death. [97184]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for surgeons to make judgments about the suitability of donated organs for transplant. Guidance is available that sets out the risks and benefits of when an organ should be used. Ultimately, this is a decision for the clinician, the patient and their family.
NHS Blood and Transplant are working to raise the profile of and improve the systems for organ donation within every hospital trust. In order to do this they have established a network of specialist nurses for organ donation who are based at hospitals throughout the country. They work closely with intensive care and emergency department staff to identify both brain death, and circulatory death potential donors, as well as supporting bereaved families through the organ donation process. Once the specialist nurse is informed of a potential organ donor they are responsible for giving information and support to the donors relatives during the donation process.