Written Answers of 13 July 2004

  Judicial Review
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why no central records are kept about judicial reviews and their cost; and [HL3536]

  Which public bodies were subject to judicial review in 2003; who were the complainants; how much was paid in legal aid; and to which solicitors. [HL3596]

  The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton):
  In England and Wales records are kept by the Administrative Court Office of the number of applications made for permission to apply for judicial review, which include details of claimants and defendants, whether permission was granted or refused, and the final date of disposal. The Northern Ireland Court Service holds a central register which records similar information in respect of Northern Ireland applications for judicial review.

  Neither the Administrative Court Office nor the Northern Ireland Court Service record the overall cost of judicial review. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Information on which public bodies in England and Wales were subject to judicial review, including who were the complainants, has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Information on which public bodies in Northern Ireland were subject to judicial review, including the number of applications made against each public body, has also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, together with a separate list of the complainants.

  The Legal Services Commissions for England and Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for the granting and payment of legal aid in relation to judicial reviews issued in their respective jurisdictions.

  The Legal Services Commission for England and Wales is not able to determine, without incurring disproportionate cost, which solicitors received legal aid for judicial review work. However, the total number of judicial review certificates for which a main bill was paid in the calendar year 2003 was 5,740, at a total cost of £20,510,068.

  In Northern Ireland during 2003 a total of £696,000 was paid out of the Legal Aid Fund for judicial review work in respect of 134 cases. A breakdown of the solicitors to whom payments were made cannot be provided for Northern Ireland cases without incurring disproportionate cost.

  It should be noted that not all judicial reviews are funded by legal aid.
  WA136

  Prison Custody: Girls Aged 15 to 18
  Lord Chadlington
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many girls aged between 15 and 18 are currently in prison; and what are the numbers per age group; and [HL3369]

  How many girls aged between 15 and 18 are currently held in prison service custody; and what are the numbers per age group. [HL3370]

  The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal):
  On 31 May 2004, there was one 16-year-old, 74 17-year-old and 114 18-year-old females held in prison establishments in England and Wales. Of these, there was one 16-year-old, 20 17-year-old and 29 18-year-old females held under prison rules, with the rest in young offender institutions.

  On 31 May 2004, there was one 16-year-old, five 17-year-old and six 18-year-old females held in Scottish penal establishments.

  On 29 April 2004, there was one 16-year-old, two 17-year-old and one 18-year-old females held in prison establishments in Northern Ireland.

  Criminal Offences
  Lord Patten
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many criminal offences were in existence in England and Wales in (a) May 1997 and (b) May 2004. [HL3477]

  Baroness Scotland of Asthal:
  Criminal offences are defined in many statutes both central and local and no attempt is made to keep track of the total number.

  Asylum Claimants: Returns to Libya
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether it is their practice at present to return unsuccessful asylum claimants to Libya. [HL3574]

  Baroness Scotland of Asthal:
  All asylum and human rights claims made by Libyan nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Our practice is to return to Libya those whose claims are refused.

  Learner Satisfaction Survey
  Baroness Sharp of Guildford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How much was spent on undertaking the Learner Satisfaction survey, produced by the Learning and Skills Council in 2003. [HL3635]
  WA137
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland):
  The views and feedback from learners who have taken up further education, work-based and adult and community learning opportunities funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is a very important indicator of the quality of the provision that is being delivered. I was pleased to see that the last national survey, published in November 2003, showed that overall 90 per cent of learners were satisfied.

  The survey was commissioned by the LSC and the chief executive has agreed to write to the noble Baroness directly with the information about the costs involved.

  Army Recruitment
  Lord Astor of Hever
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 28 June (WA 5), how delaying Phase One (Basic) training after recruitment selection for (a) single service or (b) multi-service recruits will help maintain balance in Army manpower numbers. [HL3515]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach):
  The Army's manpower requirements are dynamic, and subject to change in light of evolving doctrine, the strategic environment, changing commitments, equipment, and technology. To maintain a proper balance in Army manpower numbers it is sometimes necessary to make minor adjustments to inflow and outflow. Controlling when recruits enter the training system is a means of doing so as this determines the point at which they are taken on to trained strength.

  There is currently a pause on some recruits starting their phase 1 training. Some of those who have successfully passed through the recruit selection procedure may be given a date to commence phase 1 training later in the year. This is a short-term measure that has been introduced to help maintain balance in Army manpower numbers, and is likely to continue until October. It does not equate to banning recruitment. There is no ban, freeze or cap on Army recruitment and no one expressing a wish to join the Army is turned away.

  The Army does not conduct phase 1 training of recruits on behalf of the other services.

  Olympic Games 2012: London Bid
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 16 June (WA 76), whether there has been any change in the financial remuneration of Barbara Cassani for her work as vice-chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Bid since the appointment of MI Associates to work on the technical side of the bid. [HL3619]
  WA138
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey):
  Effective from 1 July, Barbara Cassani is supporting the bid in an unpaid position as a vice-chairman.

  Internet Access: Rural Households
  Baroness Byford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many English villages have access to a community Internet resource within 1.5 miles; and how many do not. [HL3489]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville):
  In its publication The State of the Countryside 2003, the Countryside Agency reported that 54 per cent of rural households are within 2 km of a public access point (UK online centre). This does not include other community access points such as Internet cafes.

  Neonatal Care: Pre-term Deliveries
  Lord Morris of Manchester
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What steps they are taking to counter the risk of permanent developmental brain disorder, poor school performance and chronic ill health due to very pre-term delivery and low birth weight; and [HL3271]

  What was the annual incidence of very pre-term deliveries since 1950 in the United Kingdom. [HL3274]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner):
  Last year the Government invested an additional £70 million over three years and recurrent funding thereafter of over £20 million per annum to improve neonatal intensive care services. We are also launching later this year, a Children's, Young People and Maternity National Service Framework, the maternity module of which will focus on securing the best achievable outcomes, including very pre-term and low birthweight deliveries which are sadly associated with longer-term morbidity and compromised performance at school.

  The Government's Sure Start initiative covers children from conception through to age 14, and up to age 16 for those with special educational needs and disabilities. This initiative includes the creation of a growing network of children's centres providing integrated early education, childcare, health services, family support and help into employment. The Government are committed to providing children's centre services to all pre-school children and their families in the most disadvantaged areas of England and to those facing the greatest adversity—with a long-term vision of a centre for every community.
  WA139
  There is a need however to improve ways in which morbidity from these causes can be countered. The Confidential Inquiry into Maternal and Child Health will continue the existing programme of inquiries into maternal, perinatal and infant mortality and extend its remit to encompass childhood morbidity and the establishment of a new national enquiry into child health. We expect this will inform an even more focused series of healthcare interventions in childhood.

  The data available on the incidence of pre-term deliveries in England and Northern Ireland are as in the tables. Information relating to Scotland and Wales are matters for the devolved administrations.

  Estimated number of pre-term and very pre-term deliveries, England

  Weeks gestation

  32

  32–37

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Total deliveries

  2002–03

  7,900

  1

  32,500

  6

  548,000

  2001–02

  7,200

  1

  32,200

  6

  541,700

  2000–01

  7,500

  1

  34,200

  6

  564,300

  1997–98

  7,000

  1

  34,000

  6

  585,000

  1994–95

  7,600

  1

  33,100

  5

  604,300

  Notes:Prepared by Department of Health, Statistics Division 3G. NHS hospital deliveries only.Data is only available for the selected years.The term delivery refers to a birth episode whereby a multiple birth is counted as one delivery.
  Number of pre-term and very pre-term deliveries, Northern Ireland

  Weeks gestation

  32

  32–37

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Total deliveries

  2002–03

  288

  1

  2,212

  10

  21,231

  2001–02

  268

  1

  2,265

  11

  21,302

  2000–01

  261

  1

  2,211

  10

  21,340

  1997–98

  302

  1

  2,372

  10

  23,668

  1994–95

  270

  1

  2,354

  10

  24,010

  Notes:Prepared by DHSSPS Northern Ireland (Source—the Child Health System which is resident in each Health and Social Services Board Area in Northern Ireland).Hospital and home deliveries.The term delivery refers to a birth episode whereby a multiple birth is counted as one delivery.

  Sport and Physical Recreation Promotion: Department of Health Funding
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is the departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the Department of Health and its associated agencies for each year since 2001–02. [HL3383]

  Lord Warner:
  The Department of Health is committed to developing policies that provide people with the skills, information and support to make and sustain healthy lifestyle choices.
  WA140
  The budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the department and its associated agencies, excluding the National Health Service, for the past three years is set out in the following table.

  £

  2001–02

  90,000

  2002–03

  640,000

  2003–04

  360,000

  Primary care trusts have a key role in delivering local programmes of disease prevention and health promotion, including effective policies for increasing physical activity. Spending on the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the NHS is not recorded centrally.

  NHS: Private Finance Initiatives
  Lord Tebbit
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether sums committed by public/private partnership schemes to provide facilities within the National Health Service are included in the Government's statement of expenditure on the National Health Service. [HL3442]

  Lord Warner:
  Yes. Section 4 of the Department of Health's Departmental Report 2004 summarises the National Health Service capital investment plans. These include the estimated yearly construction costs to private sector contractors on schemes taken forward under the private finance initiative as well as the figures for the department's capital resource consumption as financed from the amounts voted annually by Parliament.

  Potassium Chloride Concentrate
  Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will ban the supply of potassium chloride solution in vials similar to those used for the supply of water for injection. [HL3531]

  Lord Warner:
  Cases have been reported in the United Kingdom and internationally where potassium chloride concentrate has been mistaken for and administered instead of sodium chloride and water.

  The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) issued a patient safety alert to the National Health Service in July 2002, highlighting the risks of inappropriate use of potassium chloride concentrate and recommending safety controls to minimise these risks.

  As some clinical procedures (for example cardiac bypass surgery) require the use of potassium chloride concentrate, the product will need to remain available.

  The NPSA is currently completing a consultation to identify new ready-to-use packs, which will further

  WA141
  minimise the use of potassium chloride concentrate in ampoules and vials.

  NHS: Retirement Age
  Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether there are plans to raise the retirement age in the National Health Service to 65; and whether consultations have taken place with the professions and staff organisations. [HL3532]

  Lord Warner:
  There is no nationally determined retirement age for nurses and other non-medical staff. Hospital, public health and community doctors employed under existing terms and conditions of service are required to retire at age 65, although there is provision for an employing authority to extend employment in a locum capacity beyond 65. For consultants working under the 2003 consultant contract there is no age restriction to practise and the requirement that existing general practitioners (general medical services) cannot act as principals after age 70 was removed from 1 April 2004. There is no age restriction on doctors in the personal medical services.

  The Government have said that they intend to proceed with the proposal to move to a normal pension age of 65 in the public services, through reviews of the public service pension schemes and in consultation with employers and employee representatives.

  The NHS Confederation has been asked by the Department of Health to lead a review of the NHS pension scheme on behalf of National Health Service employers and in conjunction with the Department of Health, the NHS Pensions Agency and the National Assembly for Wales.

  Actinic Keratosis
  Lord Henley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What action they are taking to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of actinic keratosis in England. [HL3562]

  Lord Warner:
  Actinic keratosis is a dermatological condition with a small risk of cancer, typically brought on by chronic exposure to sunlight. There are two equally important health issues that need to be addressed: how to treat the condition once it occurs; and how to prevent it in the longer term through effective health education.

  Treatment of actinic keratosis is relatively straightforward and involves freezing or cutting away any skin lesions. Guidance published by the Royal College of General Practitioners on the role of general practitioners with a special interest in dermatology will help to improve advice, training and support for general practitioners and other members of the primary health care team in the management of common skin conditions.
  WA142
  We are also addressing the need to improve people's awareness of preventing skin conditions like actinic keratosis. We have commissioned Cancer Research UK to provide the SunSmart skin cancer prevention campaign for the next three years. This will provide:
  posters at all UK doctors' surgeries to help general practitioners and practice nurses identify suspicious skin lesions;
  health information leaflets for distribution to patients by doctors' surgeries.

  Free Eye Tests
  Lord Hoyle
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many pensioners have received free eye tests in each of the past two years; and what was the cost. [HL3588]

  Lord Warner:
  From 1 April 1999, the Government restored eligibility to free National Health Service sight tests to everyone aged 60 or over regardless of income. Eligibility is therefore for all over 60s, not just those who are pensioners.

  The total number of NHS sight tests paid for patients aged 60 and over in England for the years 2001–02 and 2002–03 (the latest years for which figures are available) are detailed in the following table, as is the estimated cost of those sight tests.

  Year

  Sight tests for those aged 60 and over

  Cost of sight tests for those aged 60 and over

  2001–02

  4,012,950

  £65 million (E)

  2002–03

  4,135,710

  £69 million (E)

  (E) = Estimate

  The number of sight tests cannot be equated to the number of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.

  Medical Treatment Abroad: E112 forms
  Lord Chadlington
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many people have been treated abroad under the E112 health benefit scheme since January 2003. [HL3603]

  Lord Warner:
  Patient numbers are not available but 1,336 E112 forms have been issued between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2004. Some of these relate to repeat visits by individual patients.

  Dental Implants
  Baroness Howe of Idlicote
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they are considering the recognition of implantology for use within the National Health Service; and

  [HL3629]
  WA143
  How near the General Dental Council is to registering implantology as a recognised dental technique; and [HL3630]

  How many United Kingdom dentists carry out implantology techniques; and how many recommend their patients to specialists in this field; and

  [HL3631]

  How many patients have had dental implants in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with comparable figures for (a) the United States; and (b) leading European Union member states; and

  [HL3632]

  What is the average charge for each dental implant in the United Kingdom. [HL3633]

  Lord Warner:
  Dental implants are not within the scope of the General Dental Services, but are available under the National Health Service in the Hospital Dental Service, either as an in-patient or outpatient procedure. All general dental practitioners can refer a patient to a hospital consultant where they judge it to be clinically necessary.

  The General Dental Council's ethical guidance to registrants states that dentists should practise within the limits of their knowledge, skills and experience. We are aware that some dentists offer implants to private patients, but information is not held by the Department of Health on cost, nor is information held centrally on the number of implants fitted in the United Kingdom or in overseas countries.

  Vehicle Emissions: Health Impacts
  Lord Stoddart of Swindon
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What are their most recent estimates of deaths and illnesses caused by vehicle emissions annually. [HL3641]

  Lord Warner:
  It is accepted that vehicle emissions are associated with deaths and illnesses. Estimates are made of the likely health impact of changes in vehicle emissions as a result of specific vehicle emission policies when the costs and benefits of these policies are assessed. However, estimates of deaths and illnesses caused by total vehicle emissions on an annual basis are not available. The Department of Health's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants will begin work on a report on the quantification of the health effects of air pollutants next year and this will consider the health impact of emissions from the transport sector.

  Obesity
  Lord Clement-Jones
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How they plan to increase the public's understanding of the impact of increased incidence of obesity in children on cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and diabetes in later life and of the risk factors associated with these conditions. [HL3684]
  WA144
  Lord Warner:
  The Government have recently conducted a major consultation exercise on improving public health. The consultation covered a range of lifestyle issues that would help to tackle childhood obesity, including diet and physical activity. Responses to the consultation exercise will inform the development of a public health White Paper, expected later this year.

  We recognise the impact that obesity has on health and disease and are committed to halting the current trend. At present a variety of initiatives are in place that also raise awareness about the impact of obesity on health. These including the reform of the Welfare Food Scheme; action within schools (such as the Food in Schools Programme); the 5 A DAY Programme including the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and action to address sugar, fat and salt levels in the diet. working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The FSA, as part of its Nutrition Action Plan, also supports a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving the diet and nutrition of children.

  Increasing levels of physical activity among children is also a key priority across government. Significant investment is being made to transform physical education, school sport and club links over the next three years.

  Cardiovascular Health
  Lord Clement-Jones
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What plans they have to increase awareness among the public regarding raised cholesterol levels as cardiovascular risk factors. [HL3683]

  What plans they have to increase awareness among the public of the benefits of reducing cholesterol, regardless of its level. [HL3685]

  Lord Warner:
  The Government have recently conducted a major consultation exercise on improving public health. The consultation covered a range of lifestyle issues, including diet and physical activity. Response to the consultation exercise will inform the development of a public health White Paper, due later this year.

  High intakes of saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels. The Government provide practical guidance on how consumers can reduce the saturated fat in their diets through healthy eating advice. As part of a balanced diet, foods rich in saturated fat need to be replaced with unsaturated fats such as oil rich fish and foods containing oils such as sunflower, rapeseed and olive oils. The Department of Health also funds a range of non-governmental organisations to increase awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy diet and of active lifestyles.

  The pharmaceutical industry also conducts its own campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of statins in moderating the risk of coronary heart disease.
  WA145
  Lord Clement-Jones
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will provide clear diet and lifestyle information and advice to help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease. [HL3686]

  Lord Warner:
  The Government have recently conducted a major consultation exercise on improving public health. The consultation covered a range of lifestyle issues that would help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, including diet and physical activity. Responses to the consultation exercise will involve the development of a public health White Paper, expected later this year.

  Smoking is the major preventable cause of cardiovascular disease. The Government have a comprehensive programme of awareness raising, advice and information to help individuals. This includes: the recent Department of Health funded British Heart Foundation "fatty cigarettes" campaign; new stark health warnings on tobacco products, including "Smoking clogs the arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes"; and nationwide NHS Stop Smoking Services.

  Diet and lifestyle information is provided at present within the 5 A DAY programme, which includes a number of communications initiatives to inform consumers of the benefits of eating of at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day for heart health as well as other health benefits. Regarding physical activity, a campaign to increase exercise is being piloted this summer in the north-east of England. Led by Sport England, the campaign will encourage people to include more physical activity in their daily routine.

  The Food Standards Agency, as part of its Nutrition Action Plan, supports a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving the diet and nutrition of the population. The Department of Health also funds a range of non-governmental organisations to increase awareness of the benefits of healthy diet and active lifestyles,
  WA146
  including a campaign to make the public aware of the importance of knowing their blood pressure numbers.

  Smoking in Public Places
  Lord Stoddart of Swindon
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What claims of damage to health caused by tobacco smoke in the environment have been made by the medical doctors who have recently requested a complete ban on smoking tobacco in indoor public places; what clinical and statistical evidence they provided to support their request; what are the sources of such evidence; and whether they have been tested by any objective expert body. [HL3689]

  Lord Warner:
  The Government received 4,500 letters from doctors on the need for smoke-free public places as a result of the initiative of the British Medical Association (BMA).

  There is clear evidence of the harm done by secondhand smoke. In 2002, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer published a summary of its monograph on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, which concluded that "there is sufficient evidence that involuntary smoking (exposure to secondhand or 'environmental' tobacco smoke) causes lung cancer in humans". The full monograph Tobacco Smoke and Involuntary Smoking was published in 2004.

  The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) in 1998 concluded that secondhand smoke is a cause of lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and asthma attacks in children, and is a cause of sudden infant death syndrome.

  SCOTH is undertaking a review of studies since 1998 and its report is expected shortly.

  The BMA has included its views on smoke-free public places in its response to the Choosing Health? consultation. We are currently considering all the many responses we have received. These will inform the development of a White Paper on improving health that we will publish later in the year.