§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the prescription rate for beta interferon is(a) nationally, (b) in North Yorkshire and (c) in other EU member states. [145603]
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§ Jacqui SmithThe following table shows the schools in the Basildon constituency which have benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools programme, which commenced in 1997–98. These allocations formed part of the £25.232 million investment made so far in schools in Essex local education authority, and of the £2.835 million investment made so far in schools in Thurrock local education authority, under the New Deal for Schools programme. The New Deal for Schools was introduced as a new additional programme targeted specifically at addressing the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings that had built up after 18 years of under funding under the previous administration. It has been in addition to other capital funds made available to both Essex and Thurrock local education authorities.
Nationally, investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.2 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £7.8 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.
§ Ms StuartWe estimate that on 1 January 2000 some 1,700 patients were being treated with beta interferon on the National Health Service in England. This is equivalent to around 3 per cent. of all patients with multiple sclerosis in England.
Information is not routinely collected centrally on prescribing rates in individual health authorities, or in other European Union countries.