HC Deb 01 May 2003 vol 404 cc517-8W
Mrs. Calton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advances have been made in producing a sustainable transport policy for the NHS. [108682]

Mr. Hutton

"NHS Environmental Strategy for the NHS", issued in April 2002 by NHS Estates, an Executive Agency of the Department of Health, requires the national health service to produce sustainable transport policies including healthy transport plans.

Between 1996–97 and 2001–02, the number of training places for radiographers has increased by 355 or 60 per cent., with a further increase of around 260 planned for the current financial year.

NHS Estates, the Department of Health and Sustrans have given recently a series of seminars around England for the NHS on the benefits of, and how to produce such plans.

The NHS will also be required to produce transport plans as part of local authority planning approval process for any new capital development scheme.