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Health Expenditure and GDP
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will provide a service breakdown of health expenditure per capita and as a percentage of gross domestic product (1998) in the United Kingdom as produced on page 64 of the interim report by Derek Wanless; and a similar breakdown of the European Union average (both unweighted and weighted).[HL1835]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information published on page 64 of the interim report by Mr Derek Wanless is based on data published by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development. This is the most complete and up-to-date source of information on international comparisons of expenditure.
Breast Cancer
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their response to the findings of Patrick Carroll of the Pension and Population Research Institute that "the main cause of the fast increase in post-menopausal breast cancer since the late 1980s can only be the increased availability of induced abortion"; and[HL1892]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 November (WA 25), whether they regard it as satisfactory that the forthcoming Imperial Cancer Research Fund report on the link between abortion and breast cancer should be the first such study undertaken in the United Kingdom, whereas in the United States there have been 15 studies on breast cancer and reproductive history since 1982.[HL1891]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: here are many factors that could increase the numbers of woman diagnosed with breast cancer, for example, developments in breast screening, women living longer, more women being obese, along with women having fewer children and later on in life. The study by Patrick Carroll does not provide evidence of a causal link between abortion and breast cancer, and the Royal College of Obstetricians' view, published in its evidence-based guideline on induced abortion, is that the potential link is unproven.
The evidence on the possible link between abortion and breast cancer is conflicting and at least some of the studies carried out are methodologically flawed. The Imperial Cancer Research Fund's work will evaluate the international evidence and its report should clarify the situation.
Podiatry Services
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assessment they have made of the contribution of podiatrists in the non-state registered sector towards (a) the early identification of diabetes, (b) the early identification of rheumatoid arthritis, and (c) the care of older people.[HL1905]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Non-state registered chiropodists/podiatrists are not allowed to practise in the National Health Service and information is not collected from the private sector.
The Government are proposing to modernise the regulation of professional healthcare staff to address the need for consistency of standards within professions using the same title. From April 2002, a new health professions council will be established and all those wishing to be able to practise as a chiropodist or podiatrist will be able to seek registration. The council will require all practitioners to meet accepted standards of safe practice and apply consistent, fair and appropriate measures to deal with practitioners whose practice falls short of those standards.
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assessment they have made (a) of the likely impact of the draft Health Professions Order on the future availability of podiatry services in the independent sector, and (b) of the likely impact on National Health Service podiatry services of any drop in the number of independent practitioners.[HL1908]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has been and continues to be in discussion with both the regulated and unregulated chiropody/podiatry sector. We are fully aware of the issues surrounding the regulation of this group of staff. We would hope that all members of the unregulated sector would take the opportunity to become regulated.
Nurses from Abroad: UKCC Registration
Baroness Masham of Ilton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why there is such a long delay for qualified nurses coming from abroad gaining their United Kingdom registration from the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing.[HL1919]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The number of applications for registration with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) from overseas has trebled in the last two years. The UKCC has taken on additional staff and introduced operational standards to ensure that those aspects of the process that are within the UKCC's control are handled effectively. While the UKCC endeavours to keep the length of the process to a minimum, some delays do occur when information from or on behalf of an applicant is received late or is incomplete.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What measures they are taking to prevent commercial exploitation of human embryos by companies seeking to derive stem cell lines from them; and what consulation has taken place with the parents of these embryos before commercial exploitation and subsequent destruction occurs.[HL1937]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, an individual licence must be issued for each research project undertaken using fertilised embryos. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) must be satisfied before issuing the licence that the conditions in the 1990 Act are fully complied with. Additionally, the HFEA may impose conditions on any research licence relating to the use of embryos in that research and it must be satisfied that these will also be met.
The Chief Medical Officer's expert group report, Stem Cells: Medical Progress with Responsibility, recommended that individuals whose eggs or sperm are used to create embryos to be used in research should give specific consent, indicating whether the resulting embryos could be used in a research project to derive stem cells. The Government accepted the report's recommendations and have asked the HFEA to incorporate such a provision as a condition in relevant research licences.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any research applications have been received by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for embryonic stem research since the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 were passed in January 2001 and whether any licences have been issued.[HL1948]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Since January 2001 the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority (HFEA) has received five applications for human embryo research related to stem cells under the original research purposes in the 1990 Act and licences have been issued for four of these. Two applications for research under the HFE (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 have been received which are both at present under consideration. Up to 15 November, no applications for research using human embryos created by cell nuclear replacement had been received by the HFEA.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the increased personnel and budgetary implications for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority following the passage of the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 and the
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001.[HL1950]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is not responsible for the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001. To date the authority has received only two research applications under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001. The authority is able to handle these within existing resources. The authority's budget is subject to annual review and agreement with the Department of Health on the basis of all the authority's functions. Staffing arrangements are a matter for the authority.
Golden Jubilee Medal
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On how many celebratory occasions a Jubilee medal has been awarded to members of the police force.[HL1714]
When they will announce the result of their review of their decision that the Queen's Jubilee medal should not be awarded to members of the police force.[HL1715]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): A special medal was issued to members of the police force to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 and Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Members of the police force also received a jubilee medal for King George V's Silver Jubilee in 1935 and the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.
As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced on 4 December, having considered representations from the police and others, the Government have decided that eligibility for the Golden Jubilee medal should be extended to include members of the emergency services: the police, fire and ambulance services, the Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the Mountain Rescue service. As is the case for the Armed Forces and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the medal will be issued to serving members who have completed a minimum of five years' reckonable service on 6 February 2002.
A copy of the announcement has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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