Streptococcus

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reason was for his Department's decision not to introduce Enriched Culture Medium testing for Group B Strep on 1 January 2014. despite Ministers' previous commitment to do this; and who took that decision. [187359]

Dr Poulter: The chief medical officer requested the former Health Protection Agency (HPA) to make recommendations for the introduction of a more accurate test for group B streptococcus (GBS) called enriched culture medium (ECM), and make it available in its regional laboratories when there was a clinical indication for testing.

In response to this, Public Health England (PHE, formerly the HPA) undertook a piece of work with clinical organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to determine whether there are any circumstances in which the ECM test could be applied within the current standard of care.

This work by PHE concluded in December 2013 that there are no clinical indications for testing women for GBS using ECM methods as recommended within current guidance from the key professional bodies, and therefore no indications which should prompt the offer of an ECM test.

The UK National Screening Committee also recommended in 2012 that a programme of universal screening of pregnant women at 35 weeks for GBS should not be established in the United Kingdom.

Sugar

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of daily calorie intake was provided by added sugar for a (a) male child, (b) female child, (c) male adult and (d) female adult in each of the last five years. [186477]

Jane Ellison: Data on added sugar intakes (including sugar from fruit juice and honey) are collected in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The most recent data available are from 2008-09 to 2010-11. These results can be compared with data from earlier surveys carried out in 2000-01 for adults, 1994-95 for older adults and 1997 for children. The average percentage of energy intake from added sugar for adults and children in the recent and earlier NDNS are shown in tables 1 and 2.

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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of meetings he has attended in which the issue of sugar consumption was discussed in the last 12 months. [186500]

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State for Health meets public health stakeholders, food and drinks companies on a regular basis. A variety of topics around diet and calorie reduction, including sugar consumption, are discussed.

Details of all ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. The latest publication can be found on the Department's website at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-external-meetings-2012-to-2013?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently met with Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman of ‘Action on Sugar’, the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), and others to discuss sugar consumption.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Government's commitment to give due consideration to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when making new policy and legislation, if he will place in the Library all assessments of how new policy and legislation from his Department since January 2013 has given due consideration to the UNCRC. [186587]

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Dr Poulter: The Department of Health is committed to giving due consideration of the UN convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC) during the policy-making process. The Department of Health consults a range of expert groups to ensure the best interests of children are represented within our work. For example, in October 2013, the Secretary of State for Health received a report from the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum on the issues raised in the report by Robert Francis QC as they relate to children and young people. Their report was informed by the views of children and young people, including those gathered by on their behalf the National Children's Bureau, one of the Department's strategic partners.

The United Kingdom Government are due to report to the UN Committee responsible for the UNCRC shortly. The Department for Education is co-ordinating the response from other Government Departments, including the work that the Department of Health has undertaken. Once the Government have submitted their response to the UN Committee a copy of the response will be placed in the Library.

Young People: Crimes of Violence

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions his Department has had with the Home Department on youth violence; [187212]

(2) which Minister in his Department is a member of the inter-ministerial group on gang culture; and on what dates that Minister has attended meetings of the group. [187335]

Jane Ellison: Ending gang and youth violence is a Government priority to which the Department contributes. The Ending Youth and Gang Violence Inter-ministerial Group falls within the portfolio of the Public Health Minister who attended the IMG meetings held on 21 January, 20 June and 17 October 2013 at the Home Office. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Earl Howe, attended the most recent meeting on 4 February on my behalf.

Ministers and officials in the Department have met with the Home Office as part of the process of policy development and delivery. My office is arranging a meeting with the Minister for Crime Prevention, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), in April to discuss youth violence.