Sitting of 2 September 2003

DEFENCE

  Clansman Radio System
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on the performance of Clansman radio systems in Iraq. [124671]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Information and Communications System Support IPT has requested formal and specific feedback on the performance of Clansman during Operation Telic. A positive report was received on 18 August 2003 from Headquarters Land Command on the performance of Clansman radio systems during Operation TELIC in Iraq, which stated that Clansman "performed well in availability terms". No formal reports have yet been received on the performance of Clansman in terms of its effectiveness as a Combat Net Radio System. Additionally, no formal complaints have been received in respect of Clansman performance.

  Medical Treatment
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money was paid for(a) private and (b) NHS medical treatment of service personnel in each calendar year since 1997. [117883]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 9 June 2003]The information requested is only held by financial year. The cost of private treatment in respect of centrally run treatment initiatives and single service schemes in the United Kingdom in each of the years from 2001–02 to 2002–03 is shown as follows. No figures for private treatment have been recorded centrally for years prior to 2000–01.

  £ million

  2000–01

  0.769

  2001–02

  4.095

  2002–03

  3.326

  Expenditure on NHS providers between 1996–97 and 2002–03 was as follows:

  £ million

  1996–97

  0.137

  1997–98

  2.294

  1998–99

  7.419

  1999–2000

  8.560

  2000–01

  15.168

  2001–02

  23.209

  2002–03

  25.725

  The figures represent payments under the Service Level Agreements between the Ministry of Defence and
  2W
  the NHS Hospital Trusts which host the MOD Hospital Units (MDHUs) as they became established, the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) from 2001–02 onwards, and the Royal Surrey County Hospital from 2000–01 onwards (for oromaxillofacial treatment only).

  The figures for 1996–97 to 2000–01 represent the net costs to MOD after offsetting the payments received from the host Trusts in respect of military personnel serving in MDHU's, the RCDM and the Royal Surrey County Hospital. With effect from 1 April 2001, the two sets of costs were separated and figures shown for that year onwards represent gross treatment costs.

  Services Training
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trainees have been(a) killed and (b) injured in the last 10 years; and in each case what the type of training being undertaken and the cause of injury or death was. [123950]

  Mr. Caplin
  Between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2002 there were 112 Regular Service trainees killed through fatal injuries. It is not possible to provide individual details for each trainee as this would compromise service personnel confidentiality. Comprehensive information on non-fatal injuries is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table provides details of the deaths of the trainees killed as a result of injuries, broken down by cause.

  Regular armed forces trainee personnel killed due to fatal injuries: 1993–2002

  Cause of death

  Number killed

  Training and Exercises-Accidents

  10

  Firearms

  3

  Environmental factors (e.g. Excessive heat/cold pressure)

  3

  Road traffic accidents

  1

  Drowning

  1

  Falls, twisting, turning, slipping etc.

  2

  On-Duty Accidents

  10

  Road traffic accidents

  5

  Firearms1

  2

  Aircraft

  2

  Parachute

  1

  Off-Duty Accidents

  68

  Road traffic accidents

  46

  Poisoning

  6

  Hanging, suffocation, strangulation etc.

  5

  Falls, twisting, turning, slipping etc.

  4

  Firearms1

  2

  Drowning

  2

  Aircraft

  1

  Machinery and tools

  1

  Water transport

  1

  Suicide2

  23

  Off duty criminal shooting

  1

  Total killed

  112

  1 Includes deaths awaiting coroner's verdicts.

  2 Defined as coroner's verdicts of suicide and open. Please note that suicide and open verdicts are subject to change as outstanding coroner's verdicts are reported.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [126670]

  Mr. Caplin
  Between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003, special advisers in the Ministry of Defence travelled abroad on 12 occasions and visited the following countries:

  Bahrain

  Belgium

  Crete

  Czech Republic

  France

  Germany

  Italy

  Kuwait

  Poland

  Qatar

  Turkey

  USA

  The average cost of each visit was £1,398.

  All travel by special advisers is undertaken fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

HEALTH

  Adverse Reactions to Drugs (Children)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children suffered adverse effects last year from prescribed drugs that required hospital treatment. [126718]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Data from Hospital Episode Statistics indicates that there were 2,778 admissions to hospital of children under 16 years due to adverse effects from drugs, medicines and biological substances in therapeutic use in national health service hospitals in England in 2001–02. These data include adverse effects from all medicines, whether prescribed or taken without prescription. It is important to note that these figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have been admitted to hospital more than once in the year.

  Cancer Care
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to ensure cancer is treated as a primary care priority in line with his Department's national guidance; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure cancer is treated as a primary care priority in line with his Department's national guidance. [123255]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The NHS Cancedr Plan made clear the crucial role that family doctors and community nurses have to play at all stages along the cancer patient 4W
  pathway. One of the actions in the NHS Cancer Plan was the establishment of a new partnership between the National Health Service and Macmillan Cancer Relief to provide around £3 million a year for three years to support a lead clinician in cancer within every primary care trust (PCT). These leads have a key role to play by providing strategic leadership within the PCT, contributing to the development of cancer networks, improving communication between sectors, raising standards of cancer care through the PCTs and ensuring services are responsive to the needs of people affected by cancer.

  A recent workshop to develop a vision for primary care cancer services examined the role of community-based services in all aspects of cancer care including patients at risk of cancer, patients with symptoms suggesting a possible diagnosis of cancer and the care of patients with known cancer. The workshop was attended by a number of stakeholders including representatives from PCTs. It also provided an opportunity to consider the cancer elements of the proposed general medical services contract quality and outcomes framework. This includes some cancer and palliative care specific indicators as well as other generic organisational indicators that are of particular relevance to cancer patients wuch as sharing information out of hours.

  Responsibility for commissioning of cancer services now rests with PCTs and it is for PCTs in parnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders to determine how best to meet national priorities, including the targets set for cancer, in "Improvement, Expansion and Reform: the next three years—Priorities and Planning Framework 2003 to 2006".

  PCTs and SHAs were required to produce local delivery plans (LDPs) for the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06 setting out how the would deliver the national targets set out in the Priorities and Planning Framework and supporting guidance was provided to assist with this. It is the SHA who are responsible for delivering the targets or outcomes in their LDP.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest average waiting time is from referral to(a) imaging treatment, (b) endoscopy treatment and (c) radiotherapy treatment for NHS cancer patients. [126990]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Data are not collected centrally on waiting times for scans, endoscopy or radiotherapy treatment. The length of time that a patient may have to wait is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, dependent on the clinical priority of all patients waiting to be treated.

  Where these procedures form part of the pathway for cancer patients the NHS Cancer Plan set out maximum waiting time targets for first definitive cancer treatment. From 2001, there was a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month wait from urgent referral to first treatment for

  5W
  children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. From 2002, there was a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. By 2005, there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to first treatment and a maximum two months from urgent referral to first treatment for all cancers. Performance data on current cancer waiting times targets are published on the Departments website at www.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits.

  Cosmetic Surgery
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that cosmetic surgery clinics check the qualifications and expertise of the surgeons they employ. [126829]

  Mr. Hutton
  Under the Care Standards Act 2000, from 1 April 2002 all independent health care providers have been regulated by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). The NCSC has a health directorate devoted to the inspection and regulation of independent health care providers, who are required to meet national minimum standards. These require that cosmetic surgeons are registered with the General Medical Council and that pre and post employment checks are carried out, including validation of qualifications, and that employment references are sought.

  If the NCSC discovers that an independent hospital is not complying with these standards, it has the power to take appropriate regulatory action to ensure they are met.

  Emergency Planning
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards training(a) general practitioners, (b) staff at NHS Direct and (c) accident and emergency staff to spot outbreaks of infectious diseases. [122103]

  Mr. Hutton
  Training is long established for health care workers to respond to routine outbreaks of infectious diseases. Since 11 September 2001, training to spot outbreaks of infectious diseases caused by the deliberate release of biological agents has increased. This has included educational articles in national and international medical journals, authoritative and up-to-date advice on the Department of Health and Health Protection Agency's web-sites and seminars/conferences for specific groups of healthcare workers. These seminars follow the principle of "Training the Trainer" and will be cascaded to other health care professionals. More are planned this year. Training for a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident is now the responsibility of the Health Protection Agency [HPA].

  For general practitioners, a conference was organised by the Department of Health and the Royal College of General Practitioners in early July.

  All NHS Direct staff have been trained in the rationale, mechanism and importance of their surveillance programme, set up to detect outbreaks of infectious diseases. Analysts have been trained to deliver
  6W
  daily surveillance reports and a training module is being developed, in collaboration with the HPA, on emergency planning.

  Accident and emergency staff have been trained through seminars for example 'Silent Weapons' and advanced life support group training.

  Healthcare-associated Infections
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the targeted action plans for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance as set out in "Getting Ahead of the Curve" for tackling HAI. [126842]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The targeted action plans for healthcare associated infection and antimicrobial resistance as set out in "Getting Ahead of the Curve" will contribute to the Government's longer term strategy to prevent and reduce healthcare associated infections.

  Hospital Hygiene
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the traffic light league tables for hospital cleanliness; what plans he has to change the system; and if he will make a statement. [126358]

  Mr. Hutton
  The patient environment action team programme, and the resulting 'traffic light' ratings awarded to hospitals, have been significant factors in improving the environmental conditions, including standards of cleanliness, in hospitals.

  Since the introduction of the system the number of 'Green' hospitals has increased from 22.3 per cent. to 60 per cent. (2000–02) while the number being assessed as 'Red' has fallen from 35.5 per cent. to zero over the same period.

  There are no plans to change the system.

  Hospital Laundry Facilities
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals do not have laundry facilities on site; and whether he intends to require all hospitals to have internal laundries. [126416]

  Mr. Hutton
  No information is held centrally on the number of hospitals with on-site laundry facilities.

  There is no intention to require all hospitals to have laundries on site. The management and control of hospital linen is administered at local level. National health service trusts are required to have risk management protocols with regard to effective laundry practice.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for requiring nurses and medical staff to keep their uniforms at work to be laundered after each use rather than travelling to work in uniform. [126417]

  Mr. Hutton
  Provision and laundering of staff uniforms is a matter for individual trusts to determine. There are no proposals to require staff to leave uniforms at work for trusts to launder.

  Maternity Care
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent midwives were employed in the NHS in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [126997]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Between 2000 and 2002, there has been an increase of 460 whole-time equivalent midwives as training numbers have increased and recruitment and retention strategies have been implemented.

  NHS midwives as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalents

  1998

  18,168

  1999

  17,876

  2000

  17,662

  2001

  18,048

  2002

  18,119

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce census

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms the NHS has for offering homebirth and natural birthing opportunities to expectant mothers. [126998]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The national health service provides a variety of types of care for women during pregnancy and childbirth, including home birth and natural birthing opportunities. The Department of Health advocates local decision making in designing appropriate, effective services that fit in with the ethos of woman-centred care. It is inevitable that the requirements of women will vary in different parts of the country and this is why it is so important that decisions about service provision are made at a local level.

  The Department of Health is currently developing the children's national service framework (NSF) which includes a maternity module. The NSF will focus on extending maternity choices, so that women in all parts of the country have a greater choice in the place and type of birth.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the numbers of consultant obstetricians in labour units in the NHS; what guidelines he has issued on the(a) optimum and (b) minimum coverage of labour units by consultant obstetricians; and what the average number of consultant obstetricians in labour units in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority is. [124224]

  Dr. Ladyman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Department of Health officials have received a number of representations on numbers of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology on labour units, in particular, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology.

  These include contributions to the report to the children task force from the maternity and neonatal workforce group, annual speciality review meetings and the maternity module of the children's national service framework.
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  The Department of Health does not issue professional guidance on labour ward cover. This is a matter for the professional bodies and for local determination according to a units circumstances and requirements.

  We do not collect figures on the number of consultant obstetricians in labour units in England. The number of consultants with an obstetric and gynaecology speciality in each strategic health authority is shown in the table.

  Hospital medical consultants with an obstetrics and gynaecology speciality by strategic health authority—as at 30 September 2002—(headcount)

  Numbers

  England

  1,308

  Q01

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  57

  Q02

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  31

  Q03

  Essex

  27

  Q04

  North West London

  70

  Q05

  North Central London

  49

  Q06

  North East London

  63

  Q07

  South East London

  52

  Q08

  South West London

  36

  Q09

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  47

  Q10

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  38

  Q11

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  36

  Q12

  West Yorkshire

  51

  Q13

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  43

  Q14

  Greater Manchester

  74

  Q15

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  69

  Q16

  Thames Valley

  48

  Q17

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  40

  Q18

  Kent and Medway

  43

  Q19

  Surrey and Sussex

  61

  Q20

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  53

  Q21

  South West Peninsula

  30

  Q22

  Dorset and Somerset

  24

  Q23

  South Yorkshire

  47

  Q24

  Trent

  55

  Q25

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  38

  Q26

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  26

  Q27

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  65

  Q28

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire and Worcestershire

  35

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of babies born per bed per day in labour units in(a) England and (b) each strategic health authority has been in each year since 1997. [124227]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information is not available in the format requested. Information about maternities and maternity beds in England is shown in the table. However, information by strategic health authority is not available.

  Number of maternities and available maternity beds, England, 1997–98 to 2002–02

  Year

  Maternities

  Available maternity beds

  Maternities per bed per day

  1997–98

  585,000

  10,781

  0.15

  1998–99

  577,500

  10,398

  0.15

  1999–2000

  565,300

  10,203

  0.15

  2000–01

  549,600

  9,767

  0.15

  2001–02

  541,700

  9,812

  0.15

  Source:

  Maternities—DH/SD3G; available beds—DH/hospital activity statistics

  Ministerial Visits
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) foreign and (b) UK visits he has made since 1 April; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; who he met; and what gifts were received. [126892]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Since 1 April 2003 the Secretary of State for Health has made the following foreign and UK visits.

  My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Health (Mr. Milburn) made one foreign visit and seven UK visits:

  Geneva

  To attend the World Health Assembly Meeting. To meet various international Health Ministers. The cost of the visit was £668.00.

  Pontefract General Infirmary

  To meet Lord Geoffrey Lofthouse (Trust Chairman and former MP for Pontefract) and Roger French (Chief Executive) and staff.

  St. George's Health Centre, Leeds

  To meet staff.

  Westminster Eye Ward, Countess of Chester Health Park

  To meet the Chair and Chief Executive, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust), Christine Russell MP, Cllr Bob Rudd.

  Jubilee Day Surgery Centre, Chester

  Official opening and to meet staff and Christine Russell MP, Cllr Bob Rudd.

  West Chester Hospital

  Laying of sod at the site of the new West Chester Hospital to meet Christine Russell MP, Cllr Bob Rudd.

  University College Hospital, London

  To meet the Chairman, Chief Executive, Medical Director, Consultant (Radiology), General Manager (Imaging), Superintendent Radiographer, Director of Cancer Services, General Manager, Cancer Services, Director of Services North London Cancer Network.

  Wansbeck Hospital

  Opening the new £20 million Phase 2 at Wansbeck Hospital and to meet the Chief Executive, the Chairman, the Chairman of the Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority, the Chief Executive of the Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority, the Chief Executive and the Chairman of the Northumberland PCT, the Deputy Chief Executive and a Gleesons/Canmore representative.

  Since 13 June 2003 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Dr. John Reid) made no foreign visits and three UK visits.

  Soho Walk-in Centre

  To meet the Centre Manager and staff.

  Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital

  To meet a Genetics Nurse, a Dietician, and Cardiac Physiotherapist and medical staff.

  Bromley by Bow Healthy Living Centre

  To meet the Director of the Bromley by Bow Centre, the Chief Executive of the Strategic Health Authority and the GP.
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  The Secretary of State received a gift of 'Sunbather' in green soapstone by Paula Haughney at Bromley. He has received no other gifts.

  Neurology Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2003,Official Report, column 541W, on neurological registrars, how many senior house officers specialising in neurology there were in each region in each year. [126343]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of senior house officers (SHOs) within neurology, in each national health service region, in 1997, 1998 and 2001 is shown in table 1.

  In 1998, the Department validated data returns against information held by the Royal Colleges which resulted in the reclassification of some specialities. Therefore, the decrease shown in SHO neurology numbers in 1998 is largely an issue of reclassification rather than a reduction.

  From 2002, data are no longer collected by regional office. Table 2 contains data by strategic health authority.

  Table 1: Hospital medical senior house officers in the neurology specialty by region

  As at 30 September

  1997

  1998

  2001

  England

  141

  119

  122

  Northern and Yorkshire

  25

  22

  19

  Trent

  11

  7

  10

  West Midlands

  11

  12

  9

  North West

  14

  14

  14

  Eastern

  8

  11

  11

  London

  44

  34

  34

  South East

  21

  13

  14

  South Western

  7

  6

  11

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

  Table 2: Hospital medical senior house officers in the neurology specialty by strategic health authority—2002

  As at 30 September

  Numbers (headcount)

  England

  123

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  3

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  1

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  7

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  4

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  1

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  0

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  3

  Dorset and Somerset

  0

  Essex

  1

  Greater Manchester

  6

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  3

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  4

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  8

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  2

  North Central London

  12

  North East London

  6

  North West London

  7

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  7

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  2

  South East London

  10

  South West London

  3

  South West Peninsula

  0

  South Yorkshire

  8

  Surrey and Sussex

  2

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  Table 2: Hospital medical senior house officers in the neurology specialty by strategic health authority—2002

  As at 30 September

  Numbers (headcount)

  Thames Valley

  10

  Trent

  1

  West Yorkshire

  12

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

  NHS Pay
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) nurses and (b) doctors in NHS hospitals were paid on average in 1997; and what they are paid now. [112839]

  Mr. Hutton
  The estimated average amounts per whole-time equivalent paid to nurses and doctors in national health service hospitals in 1997, and the latest estimates, are given in the following table.

  £

  1997

  2002

  Qualified nurses

  18,900

  24,400

  Doctors in NHS hospitals

  40,400

  54,500

  Source:

  Department of Health's August 1997 and 2000 NHS staff earnings survey.

  The information in this answer relates to England only. Pay for NHS staff in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the devolved Administrations. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in Northern Ireland.

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's research into the use of riluzole for the treatment of motor neurone disease. [127028]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance in January 2001 on the use of riluzole in the treatment of motor neurone disease. This guidance is due to be reviewed in 2004. Further details are available on NICE's website at www.nice.org.uk.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's research into the diagnosis, management and treatment of Parkinson's disease in primary and secondary care. [127029]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently preparing a guideline on the diagnosis, management and treatment of Parkinson's disease in primary and secondary care. The anticipated publication date for the guideline is July 2005. Further details are available from NICE's website at www.nice.org.uk

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's research into the use of(a) lamotrigine, (b) vigabatrin, (c) gabapentin, (d) oxcarbazepine, (e) topiramate and (f) tiagabine for the treatment of epilepsy in (i) children and (ii) adults. [127030]
  12W
  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is carrying out appraisals of these drugs and expects to publish its guidance in November 2003. Full details are on NICE's website at www. nice. org.uk.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's research into the use of(a) memantine, (b) donepezil, (c) rivastigmine and (d) galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [127031]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use of donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease in January 2001. It will be conducting a review of its guidance and expects to publish revised guidance in May 2005. Memantine (for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease) is currently being appraised by NICE. The anticipated publication date of guidance is also May 2005. Full details are available on the website for NICE at www.nice.org.uk.

  Radiographers
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole time equivalent radiographers were working in the NHS in each of the last five years. [126993]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Sine 1998, the number of whole-time equivalent radiographers employed in the national health service has increased by 670, or 7 per cent.

  Whole-time equivalents

  As at 30 September each year

  All radiographers

  Diagnostic

  Therapeutic

  1998

  10,193

  8,860

  1,333

  1999

  10,368

  9,009

  1,358

  2000

  10,478

  9,169

  1,309

  2001

  10,655

  9,264

  1,391

  2002

  10,863

  9,489

  1,374

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of health and improvement modernisation plans set out a policy on rough sleepers. [125850]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts (PCTs) are now the lead organisation responsible for planning health care services that better meet local needs. PCTs have the key role, through local delivery plans (LDPs), in representing the national health service in broader local planning arrangements around health improvement and partnerships with key local agencies. PCTs have the freedom to determine locally how they best address issues such as rough sleeping through their LDPs. As it is a matter for local decision making, the Department would not prescribe or monitor centrally how PCTs have locally addressed this particular issue.

  Smallpox and TB Vaccines
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with companies involved in the bidding process for contracts to supply(a) smallpox vaccines and (b) TB vaccines; and whether Dr. Paul Drayson was referred to. [109092]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department awarded a contract for the supply of smallpox vaccine on 11 April 2002. Prior to this, officials from the Department met with Powderject on 22 January 2002 as part of confidential discussions held with the five major pharmaceutical companies known to have smallpox vaccine manufacturing capability.

  The meeting was to inform the companies of our requirements for smallpox vaccine and to find out whether the company was in a position to meet our requirements and if so, to invite them to submit their written proposals for vaccine supply. Since the award of the contract to Powderject, there were regular ad hoc meetings between officials from the Department and the Ministry of Defence with Powderject to resolve matters of detail concerning labelling and packaging and delivery of the vaccine. As all discussions with the company were confidential, the names of those present can not be revealed in accordance with normal policy.

  The Department will shortly be completing a second tranche of smallpox procurement. On 10 January 2003, officials from the Department met with representatives of all companies who had expressed an interest in bidding for the contract. An adjudication meeting was held on 12 May 2003 with representatives of two companies whose bids met the criteria for supply. On 30 July, the Government announced its intention to award the contract to Aventis Pasteur MSD. It is regarded as best practice, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, that the names of those unsuccessful companies who submitted bids are not revealed.

  The Department has had no discussions with companies involved in the bidding process for BCG and Tuberculin PPD. These contract negotiations are dealt with by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency on behalf of the Department.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting(a) 0–4 weeks, (b) 4–13 weeks, (c) 13–17 weeks, (d) 17–21 weeks, (e) 21–26 weeks and (f) more than 26 weeks from the receipt of a GP written referral request to a first specialty outpatient attendance in (i) pain management and (ii) ophthalmology in each quarter since Quarter 1 of 1996–97 for each NHS trust and primary care trust and for England as a whole. [127025]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is being held in the Library. Patients still waiting over 26 weeks for first consultant outpatient appointment following general practitioner written referral have reduced from end of quarter 1 1996–97 for the ophthalmology specialty from 4,845 to 3 in quarter 4 2002–03. Prior to quarter 1 1997–98 the pain management specialty was a sub-set of the anaesthetic specialty. For the pain management specialty, the reduction in patients still waiting over 26 weeks was 479 in quarter 1 1997–98 to 0 in quarter 4 2002–03.