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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children with (a) autism and (b) other brain disorders have been issued with an antisocial behaviour order.

Asked by

Roger Godsiff (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 June 2005

Reference

1024; 434 c501W;434 c503W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been commissioned to investigate the change in the incidence of thyroid disease in fluoridated areas.

Asked by

David Crausby (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

14 May 2003

For answer on

13 June 2003

Answered on

13 June 2003

Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned to investigate the change in the incidence of thyroid disease in fluoridated areas. [114276] Ms Blears: A review by the University of York into the fluoridation of water listed three studies in which the incidence of thyroid (goitre) disease was the outcome of interest. Two of these studies (Gedalia and Brand (1963), "The relationship of fluoride and iodine in drinking water in the occurrence of goiter, Arch Int Pharmacodyn, 142, 312-315)"; Jooste et al. (1999) "Endemic goiter in the absence of iodine deficiency in schoolchildren of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, Eur J Clin Nutr, 53(1), 8-12)" found no significant association with water fluoride level. The third (Lin et al. (1991) "The relationship of a low iodine and high fluoride environment to subclinical cretinism in Xinjiang," Xinjiang Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Research, Office of Leading Group for Endemic Disease Control of Hetian Prefectural Committee of the Communist Party of China and County Health and Endemic Prevention Station, Yutian, Xinjiang--unpublished report submitted through national health service centre for Reviews and Dissemination website) found a significant positive association between combined high fluoride/low iodine levels and goitre. The Department of Health asked the Medical Research Council (MRC) to suggest where it might be possible to strengthen the evidence currently available. In their report, MRC concluded that, because the 1991 study looked at combined fluoride/iodine uptakes and has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, the findings should be treated cautiously. The MRC reported in September 2002 and on their recommendation, we have commissioned a study to investigate the effect of water hardness and source of fluoride ion on bio-availability of fluoride in drinking water. The study is due for completion in autumn 2003. The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer have been asked to advise on the implications of the other MRC recommendations for Government policy.

Date

13 June 2003

Reference

114276; 406 c1127W;406 c1129W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of research into (a) the causes and (b) the treatment of prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures and tables.

Asked by

Lord Coaker (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

5 June 2003

For answer on

13 June 2003

Answered on

13 June 2003

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of research into (a) the causes and (b) the treatment of prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. [117898] Ms Blears: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments of disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology. The MRC has co-funded two prostate cancer collaboratives with the Department of Health and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). The total funding from all partners is approximately £6 million over five years. These are the ICR Prostate Cancer Collaborative, directed by Colin Cooper and the Northern Prostate Cancer Consortium, directed by David Neal. In March 2000, we announced £1 million additional new funding for urgent research studies into prostate cancer as a mark of its concern over this disease. The NHS Plan went further by announcing that the Government would increase by £1 million the resources devoted to prostate cancer for each of the next three years. This means that, quality permitting, Department of Health direct funding for prostate cancer research will be: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. £ 2000-01 1,200,000 2001-02 2,200,000 2002-03 3,200,000 2003-04 4,200,000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. This is a twenty-fold increase compared with 1999-2000. Funding in previous years was: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. £ 1999-2000 200,000 1996-97 98,000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Examples of research the Department is funding are: A review of new and emerging treatments, for example, brachytherapy and cryotherapy for prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Studentships, funded jointly with the MRC.

Date

13 June 2003

Reference

117898; 406 c1132-3W;406 c1134-5W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specific healthcare strategies he has set for the detection and treatment of (a) prostate, (b) lung, (c) bowel and (d) testicular cancer in men; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Nicholas Winterton (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

5 June 2003

For answer on

13 June 2003

Answered on

13 June 2003

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific health care strategies he has set for the detection and treatment of (a) prostate, (b) lung, (c) bowel and (d) testicular cancer in men; and if he will make a statement. [118563] Ms Blears: We are taking action in several areas to improve the detection and treatment of prostate, lung, bowel and testicular cancer: The national health service prostate cancer programme sets out the Government's approach to improving prostate cancer services including the publication of the prostate cancer risk management programme in July 2001 and a commitment to introducing a prostate cancer screening programme if, and when, screening and treatment techniques have developed sufficiently. There has been targeted investment in lung cancer services. An additional £10 million was made available from 1999 to improve lung cancer services. This money is being used to help improve access to services, enhance the quality of treatment and to bring down waiting times for treatment for lung cancer. From 2002-03, this money was placed in baseline allocations. The national cancer director launched the NHS bowel cancer programme on 4 February 2003. This programme will translate into action the Government's commitment to continue to improve services for bowel cancer patients and to introduce a national screening programme for bowel cancer. There are already specialist NHS services for the management of men with testicular cancer and outcomes are generally good with the vast majority of patients being cured. Men should be aware of any unusual changes in their testicles and consult doctors early in order to ensure the maximum chance of a cure. That is why we have collaborated with Cancer Research UK in the production of a testicular self-awareness leaflet "Testicular Cancer: Spot The Symptoms Early", which is widely available. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the use of new generation chemotherapy drugs benefiting around 5,000 lung cancer patients and 7,000 bowel cancer patients each year. NICE is currently preparing guidance on the use of a new drug, Iressa, for the treatment of lung cancer. Last year, NICE published "Improving Outcomes Guidance" (IOG) on the organisation and delivery of services for people with urological cancers, including prostate and testicular cancer. Local NHS organisations are currently developing action plans for implementing the guidance. NICE is currently updating the 1997 IOG for bowel cancer services. The updated guidance is due to be published later this summer. IOG for lung cancer services was published in 1998. NICE is now developing clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lung cancer, which are due to be published in March 2004. We are determined to improve cancer services for all patients, including those with prostate, lung, bowel and testicular cancers. That is why the Cancer Plan is being backed by the biggest ever increase in funding for cancer services. Compared to 2000-01, there will be an additional £570 million a year in 2003-04.

Date

13 June 2003

Reference

118563; 406 c1121W;406 c1123W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public money was spent on research into (a) cystic fibrosis and (b) gene therapy in each of the last five years. - Inc table and ref to "Information needs for health planning; screening for cystic fibrosis" and "A comparative study...

Asked by

Anthony Steen (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

2 June 2003

For answer on

13 June 2003

Answered on

13 June 2003

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money was spent on research into (a) cystic fibrosis and (b) gene therapy in each of the last five years. [116929] Ms Blears: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding from the Department for Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology. Since 1997-98 MRC expenditure on cystic fibrosis has been as follows: Expenditure on Cystic Fibrosis £ millions _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Amount 1997-98 1.8 1998-99 1.9 1999-2000 1.8 2000-01 1.5 2001-02 1.25 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Department of Health funds the national health service research and development programme, which aims to identify NHS needs for research and to commission research to meet those needs. Commissioning is undertaken through national programmes of research such as the health technology assessment (HTA) programme. There have been two recent projects on cystic fibrosis, "Information needs for health planning; screening for cystic fibrosis" and "A comparative study of hypertonic saline, daily and alternate day rhDNase in cystic fibrosis". The cost of these projects totalled £177,000.

Date

13 June 2003

Reference

116929; 406 c1133W;406 c1135W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to increase awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer.

Asked by

Lord Coaker (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 June 2003

Reference

117900; 406 c844W;406 c845W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the membership of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group; if he will publish the terms of reference of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group.

Asked by

Howard Stoate (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 June 2003

For answer on

10 June 2003

Answered on

10 June 2003

Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the membership of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group; [117414] (2) if he will publish the terms of reference of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group. [117415] Ms Blears: The prostate cancer advisory group is chaired by Professor Mike Richards and the members are: David Rowlands, PcASO Prostate Cancer Network; John Neate, Prostate Cancer Charity; Alan George, Coalition Against Prostate Cancer; Mr. Mark Fordham, Urologist; Mr. Roger Kochelbergh, Urologist; Mr. John Anderson, Urologist; Mr. David Gillatt, Urologist; Amanda Baxter, Cancer Nurse at the Royal Marsden; Martin Ledwick, Cancer Nurse with CancerBACUP; Dr. Ian Banks, GP; Dr. Mike Kirby, GP; Professor Peter Armstrong, Radiologist at St. Bartholomew's; Dr. Pat Harnden, Pathologist; Dr. Chris Parker, Oncologist; Dr. Heather Payne, Oncologist; Dr. Dan Ash, President of the Royal College of Radiologists; Dr. Noel Clarke, Oncologist; Dr. Jane Melia, Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit; Professor Colin Cooper, Researcher at the Institute of Cancer Research; Professor David Neal, Research; Tim Elliott, Department of Health, Cancer Policy Team, Secretariat; Dr. Helen Cambell, NHS R&D Programme; Dr. Graham Cadwallader, National Cancer Research Institute; and Julietta Patnick, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes. Terms of reference for the prostate cancer advisory group are: to review progress in implementation of the prostate cancer elements of the NHS Cancer Plan and the NHS Prostate Cancer Programme and the effectiveness of current delivery of diagnostic, treatment and palliative care services; to advise on future policy programmes and priorities to tackle prostate cancer, including the implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on improving outcomes in urological cancers, the assessment of future resource needs and the improvement of information sharing on all aspects of prostate cancer; to advise on future public awareness programmes on prostate cancer; to advise on future research priorities and the implications of research results for policy on prostate cancer; and to consider and advise as appropriate on the development of the prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP), taking on board advice from the PCRMP scientific reference group.

Date

10 June 2003

Reference

406 c844-5W;406 c845-6W; 117414;117415

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the regular use of aspirin to tackle heart disease; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Eric Martlew (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 June 2003

Reference

115732; 406 c487W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) consultants, (b) staff grade nurses, (c) play therapists and (d) outreach nurses work in children's cancer services in each regional cancer centre; how many (a) consultants, (b) play therapists, (c) staff grade nurses and (d) outreach domiciliary nurses for...

Asked by

Diana Organ (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

406 c63W; 114627;114622

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) children's cancer play therapists, (b) outreach staff grade paediatric cancer nurses and (c) paediatric cancer consultants are (i) fully funded by the NHS and (ii) part-funded by the NHS in partnership with a voluntary organisation; what percentage of funding...

Asked by

Diana Organ (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

406 c63-4W;406 c63W; 114628;114623;114624;114625

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has evaluated on possible links between high levels of salt in pre-prepared food and heart disease in children under 10.

Asked by

Ashok Kumar (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

113401; 406 c66W;406 c67W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements are in place to ensure that public health information available to individual Member States of the European Union is circulated to all Members immediately after publication.

Asked by

Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

113091; 406 c86W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the UK are infected with (a) Hepatitis C and (b) HIV or AIDS. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Tim Loughton (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

114786; 406 c72-3W;406 c73W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the local government of Havering regarding contingency plans in the event of an outbreak of SARS in that area.

Asked by

Andrew Rosindell (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 May 2003

Reference

111301; 405 c746W;405 c744W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the new action plan for tuberculosis will be published; and for what reason it has not yet been published.

Asked by

Christopher Chope (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 May 2003

Reference

114068; 405 c737W;405 c735W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent progress there has been regarding his Department's discussions with Myriad Inc on the patent for testing breast cancer genes relating to hereditary breast cancer. - There have been no recent discussions with Myriad. (Holding answer 12 May 2003).

Asked by

Marion Roe (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

14 May 2003

Reference

111931; 405 c309-10W;405 c307W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on links between long-term use of the contraceptive pill and cervical cancer. - Inc ref to The Lancet - 5 April 2003 - 361:1159.

Asked by

Jim Dobbin (Labour; Co-operative Party)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

30 April 2003

For answer on

14 May 2003

Answered on

14 May 2003

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on links between long-term use of the contraceptive pill and cervical cancer. [111433] Ms Blears: An association between long-term use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and a slightly increased risk of cervical cancer has been recognised for many years. However, it has not been possible to demonstrate a direct causal relationship as the presence of other factors, such as persistent infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), that are believed to have an important role in the development of cervical cancer, are also associated with long-term use of OCs. A review of all eligible research on the long-term use of OCs and risk of cervical cancer has recently been published (The Lancet--5 April 2003--361:1159). This review took into consideration many other relevant factors, such as HPV infection and still found that use of OCs for many years is associated with a slight increase in the risk of cervical cancer compared with `never-use'. A copy is available in the Library. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has kept the issue under review and has considered the latest evidence. CSM has advised that, as it is not possible to be certain that all relevant factors, such as duration of HPV infection, have been fully taken into account in the review, a definite causal relationship has yet to be established. Nonetheless, the new study strengthens the evidence for a causal link between long-term OC use and cervical cancer and research is ongoing. Warnings about the risk of cervical cancer with long- term use have been included in the summary of product characteristics for health professionals and the patient information leaflet for women for many years. In addition, women are advised to regularly attend for a cervical smear in accordance with Guidelines. In the United Kingdom, the introduction of a highly effective screening programme means that the total number of cases of cervical cancer is low and mortality has fallen.

Date

14 May 2003

Reference

111433; 405 c312W;405 c309-10W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the incidence of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. - Includes table.

Asked by

John Bercow (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

23 April 2003

For answer on

12 May 2003

Answered on

12 May 2003

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [110319] Ms Blears: The incidences of tuberculosis for England and Wales reported to the Health Protection Agency and formerly the Public Health Laboratory Service are shown in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Incidence rates per 100,000 of the population 1992 11.31 1993 11.51 1994 10.83 1995 10.82 1996 10.87 1997 11.22 1998 11.61 1999 11.66 2000 12.41 2001 12.90 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Date

12 May 2003

Reference

110319; 405 c113W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what public health education programmes he has launched aimed at the risk of heart disease in women.

Asked by

Lord Grayling (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 May 2003

Reference

111755; 405 c106W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of sugar intake on hyperactivity of children.

Asked by

Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 May 2003

Reference

111407; 405 c106W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher