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To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will comment on the Government's plans for taking forward European Union public health issues during the forthcoming United Kingdom presidency of the EU.

Asked by

Ben Chapman (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 December 1997

For answer on

19 December 1997

Answered on

19 December 1997

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for taking forward European Union public health issues during the forthcoming United Kingdom presidency of the EU. [22251] Ms Jowell: The Government's main priority in the public health sphere during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union will be to demonstrate the practical relevance of the EU in promoting better health. There is already a substantial agenda for the Health Council which will meet on 30 April 1998 and which I shall chair. The main topics for the Health Council during the UK Presidency will be: Communicable diseases The European Parliament is due to adopt in January its opinion on the Council's common position on the proposal to establish a Community network for the surveillance of communicable diseases. The UK Presidency will seek to reach agreement on a final version of the decision. We will also arrange for the Council to review progress by the European Union-United States task force which is considering how to establish a global network for communicable disease surveillance. Tobacco The UK Presidency will take forward as appropriate any new proposals for the Community action which the Commission may bring forward to follow up its communication on combating tobacco consumption. The European Parliament will be considering the Council's common position on the proposal for a Directive banning tobacco advertising and the UK Presidency will stand ready to facilitate adoption of a final version of the Directive. Rare diseases, pollution-related diseases and injury prevention The UK Presidency hopes that the European Parliament will deliver its opinion on these three proposals for new public health programmes in time for the Council to adopt common positions at the Health Council meeting on 30 April. Screening of blood donors and donations We will take forward consideration of the Commission's proposal for a Council recommendation on the screening of blood donors and donations. Although a recommendation is not binding on Member States, its adoption will signal their commitment to coordinate measures across the EU to secure blood safety. Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) The UK Presidency will ensure the Council keeps under review developments in understanding of the causes and routes of transmission of the agent responsible for new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Discussion on the future of public health in the EU The UK Presidency hopes to hold a discussion on Community action in the field of public health after 2001 taking into account the new European Treaty agreed in Amsterdam in June, should this be ratified, and the forthcoming enlargement of the Union. The discussion could also focus on how Health Ministers of the 15 EU Member States might establish effective working relationships with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus to ensure that public health policy matters are properly considered in their plans to join the European Union so that an enlarged Union is able to continue to provide a high level of health protection for its citizens. In this context, the Council would clearly need to take account of the work already being done in the field of public health by the World Health Organisation and in particular its European Region and by the Council of Europe. The Government also intend using opportunities outside the formal EU institutional framework to raise the profile of the EU public health agenda and to consider how it can contribute in practical ways to better public health across the Union. The Department of Health is discussing with, among others, the British Medical Association and the Royal college of Nursing about conferences planned for the UK Presidency to build on the discussions started in the Health Council about the future of public health in the EU in the next century. These events will provide further evidence of the Government's determination to demonstrate how the EU public health machinery can be made to work towards achieving a better quality of life for the people of Europe.

Date

19 December 1997

Reference

22251; 303 c386-7W

House

House of Commons

BREAST SCREENING FOR WOMEN OVER 65

That this House congratulates Age Concern on its campaign to alert women aged 65 and over to their entitlement to breast screening; notes that as a result of the Age Concern campaign the numbers of such women requesting an NHS mammogram rose from 39,193 in 1994-95 to 57,535 this year...

Primary sponsor

Linda Perham (Labour)

Type

Early day motions

Date

17 December 1997

Reference

606

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

Statement on what action he has taken to improve the identification and treatment of male cancers; what assessment he has made of the use of gene therapy in such treatment; and what plans he has to support research in this area. - Includes ref to "A Policy Framework for Commissioning...

Asked by

Tony McWalter (Labour; Co-operative Party)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 December 1997

For answer on

16 December 1997

Answered on

16 December 1997

Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to improve the identification and treatment of male cancers; what assessment he has made of the use of gene therapy in such treatment; and what plans he has to support research in this area. [19504] Mr. Boateng: The two major male cancers are testicular and prostate cancer. Raising awareness of cancer among general practitioners and patients and encouraging them to be alert that symptoms may be due to serious disease such as cancer is an important aspect of the Government's policy for cancer services set out in "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services", copies of which are available in the Library. In September 1995, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund jointly with the Department of Health launched a campaign to encourage testicular awareness through publication of a leaflet entitled "A Whole New Ball Game" so that testicular cancer could be detected early. There have been marked improvements in the treatment of testicular cancer over the last 20 years and now over 95 per cent. of patients can be cured. Professional bodies in the United States of America and the United Kingdom have published guidelines on treatment of prostate cancer. The Department of Health funded Clinical Oncology Information Network, jointly with the British Association of Urological Surgeons, has produced some further guidelines which are currently out for consultation and are due to be published next year. The National Screening Committee has recommended that there is currently no case for a national screening programme for prostate cancer. This recommendation has been accepted by Ministers. There is at present no medical evidence to suggest that a screening programme for testicular cancer should be introduced. Gene therapy for cancer is still at the research stage. At January 1997 10 gene therapy trials involving cancer were approved in the UK by the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee. None of these involve testicular or prostate cancer. However all cancer research has the potential to lead to developments in the treatment of other forms of cancer. The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The Council is currently co-ordinating four trials in the area of testicular cancer. These are: a randomised trial of two schedules of radiotherapy for stage 1 seminoma of the testis, following orchidectomy; a randomised trial of single agent carboplatin with radiotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of Stage 1 seminoma of the testis, following orchidectomy; a randomised trial of 3 " Bleomycin, Etoposide and Cisplatin (BEP) versus 3 " BEP + 1 " Etoposide and Cisplatin (EP) and the five day schedule versus three days per cycle in good prognosis germ cell cancer; a retrospective study of second cancers following radiotherapy for stage 1. The Council is co-ordinating two trials in the area of prostate cancer. These are: a double blind placebo-controlled trial of oral sodium clodronate for locally advanced prostatic adenocarcinoma; a double blind placebo-controlled trial of oral sodium clodronate for metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. The Council have recently awarded two grants in the area of male cancers with a total value of £50,000. Research into male cancers is underpinned by a significant amount of basic research relevant to all cancers. While the Council does not support any work on gene therapy in the treatment of male cancers, it does provide support for more basic research into gene therapy which will underpin and inform future more applied work in the area. The Department of Health's Policy Research Programme (PRP) is currently undertaking a systematic review of minimally invasive therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer. The study is being undertaken at the University of Newcastle at a cost of some £40,000. A study into the development and clinical evaluation of trans-rectal ultrasound devices for thermotherapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia is currently being undertaken at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at a cost of £130,000. In addition another study, a mortality study of cadmium exposed workers with particular reference to lung and prostatic cancer, was completed last year and has reported. The study was undertaken at Imperial College at a cost of £32,000. The National Health Service Research and Development Programme's Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme has also undertaken two studies into prostate cancer. These are: a systematic review of detection, management and screening for prostatic carcinoma, at a cost of approximately £54,000; a review of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of different strategies for detecting and managing prostatic carcinoma, at an approximate cost of £13,000. These two studies have reported. The HTA Programme is developing work on treatment for the spectrum of prostate cancers likely to be revealed by a screening programme. If more successful treatments can be developed it may be appropriate to look again at the potential effectiveness of introducing a screening programme at a future date. The HTA Programme is also funding three projects on treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, costing £785,000 over four to five years. The NHS R and D Cancer Programme has funded a systematic review of the early natural history of prostate, skin and oral cancers at a cost of £46,000.

Date

16 December 1997

Reference

303 c126-8W; 19504

House

House of Commons

Dubs, Lord

How the £31 million of new health service funding announced by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in July 1997 is to be allocated. - Details given.

Asked by

Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 December 1997

Reference

584 c43-4WA

House

House of Lords

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has for improving the (a) breast screening service and (b) symptomatic breast service. - Inc figs and ref to 'A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services'.

Asked by

Paul Stinchcombe (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

26 November 1997

For answer on

4 December 1997

Answered on

4 December 1997

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for improving the (a) breast screening service and (b) symptomatic breast service. [18511] Mr. Boateng: The Government are committed to providing high quality breast services. In the light of the recent failure of the breast screening programme in Exeter, the Government have announced wide ranging action on the organisation and management of cancer screening, to strengthen quality assurance, eliminate weaknesses in the management of screening, and restore public confidence. In addition to this, we are funding research into ways to improve the standard of the breast screening service offered to women. This includes pilot schemes to evaluate the effectiveness of extending the screening programme to invite women aged 65 to 69 routinely for screening; and research into the possible benefits of screening women more frequently than every three years. We intend to improve all cancer services and fully endorse the recommendations set out in the Calman/Hine document "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services". As a first step we have made available £10 million of extra resources specifically for breast cancer services. The additional funding is supporting over 300 initiatives around the country to improve the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Particular emphasis has been given to supporting projects that give rapid access to diagnostic services through the provision of one-stop clinics, speeding access to treatment by reducing waiting times and the provision of high quality care delivered in line with published guidance by specialist multi-disciplinary teams.

Date

4 December 1997

Reference

18511; 302 c344-5W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on extending the upper age limit of those automatically invited to breast screening; and if he will assess the advantages of extending the upper age limit of those automatically invited to breast screening; and if he...

Asked by

Paul Stinchcombe (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 December 1997

Reference

302 c259-60W; 18507;18526

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide national guidelines on the introduction of two-view screening for each round of breast screening; and what plans the Government has to improve the United Kingdom's detection ratio for those rounds of breast screening following the first...

Asked by

Paul Stinchcombe (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 December 1997

Reference

302 c259W; 18506;18510;18508

House

House of Commons

The Human genome Project, gene therapy and patenting

The Human Genome Project, gene therapy and patenting. House of Commons Library Research Paper 97/128.

Type

Commons Briefing papers

Date

1 December 1997

Reference

RP97-128

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide a breakdown by age of breast screening examinations undertaken over the past three years. - Inc table.

Asked by

Jeremy Corbyn (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 November 1997

Reference

17370; 301 c519W;301 c519-20W

House

House of Commons

Jay of Paddington, Baroness

What steps they have taken to implement European quality assurance recommendations for breast cancer screening, which were defined at European level in 1992 by high level experts, according to the statement in paragraph 80 on page 36 of COM (94) 83 final proposing the 1995-99 Action Plan to combat cancer,...

Asked by

Lord Ironside (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 November 1997

Reference

583 c67-8WA

House

House of Lords

Deposited Paper Dep/3 5510 [31932]

Guidance notes on mammographic X-ray equipment: selection maintenance suspension from use replacement. NHSBSP Publication 32. NHSBSP. 1995.

Deposited by

NHS Breast Screening Programme

Type

Deposited papers

Date

13 November 1997

Reference

Dep/3 5510 [31932]

House

House of Lords; House of Commons

Deposited Paper Dep/3 5510 [43379]

Revised guidance notes for health authorities on mammographic x-ray equipment requirements for breast cancer screening. STD/90/46. DOH. 1990.

Deposited by

Department of Health

Type

Deposited papers

Date

13 November 1997

Reference

Dep/3 5510 [43379]

House

House of Commons; House of Lords

Jay of Paddington, Baroness

Whether they will introduce legislation to require National Health Service X-ray mammography screening facilities to obtain a certificate of approval, to be prominently displayed and renewed at yearly intervals, covering equipment, procedures, methodology, film processing, operator and consultant qualifications, keeping of records and monitoring of screening plans for women in...

Asked by

Lord Ironside (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 November 1997

Reference

583 c33WA

House

House of Lords

Jay of Paddington, Baroness

How many X-ray mammography facilities used in the National Health Service are certified as having ISO 9002 Quality Assurance Standard approval. - Includes fact that information is not held centrally.

Asked by

Lord Ironside (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 November 1997

Reference

583 c34WA

House

House of Lords

Jay of Paddington, Baroness

How many X-ray mammography facilities are operated by the National Health Service; and where each of them is sited. - Includes fact that information is not held centrally.

Asked by

Lord Ironside (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 November 1997

Reference

583 c33WA

House

House of Lords

Jay of Paddington, Baroness

How many different types of X-ray mammography equipment are used by the National Health Service and whether the National Health Service has now selected a preferred type of equipment which will improve image definition and reduce the radiation dose. - Includes fact that information is not held centrally and ref...

Asked by

Lord Ironside (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 November 1997

Reference

583 c34WA

House

House of Lords

Deposited Paper Dep/3 5463

Breast cancer services in Exeter and quality assurance for breast screening. Report to the secretary of state. By Sir Kenneth Calman and Dame Deidre Hine. Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust. 1997. (prelim rec'd 4.11.97)

Deposited by

Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust

Type

Deposited papers

Date

5 November 1997

Reference

Dep/3 5463

House

House of Commons

Statement on breast cancer screening

Statement on breast cancer screening. (Includes ref to report on national and regional arrangements for breast screening, in Library).

Lead member

Frank Dobson

Department

Department of Health

Type

Ministerial statements

Date

3 November 1997

Reference

300 c19-28

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

Statement on Department's policy in respect of screening for, and treatment of, Hepatitis C.

Asked by

Melanie Johnson (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

24 October 1997

For answer on

29 October 1997

Answered on

29 October 1997

Miss Melanie Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy in respect of screening for, and treatment of, hepatitis C. [12300] Ms Jowell: Blood donations have been screened for antibodies to hepatitis C virus since September 1991 when reliable tests first became available. Recipients of blood or blood components donated before that date from donors since found to be carriers of hepatitis C virus are being traced in order to provide counselling, testing and specialist referral as appropriate. Organs and tissue, resulting from either live or cadaveric donations, are also screened for hepatitis C. Injecting drug misusers who share contaminated equipment are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis C infection. The guidance to purchasers of drug treatment and care services, which the Department issued in March 1997, included advice for purchasers on dealing with those who seek testing for hepatitis C. The Guidelines for Doctors on the Clinical Management of Drug Misusers last issued in 1991 are currently being revised and will be published next year. They will include updated advice on the management of hepatitis C in drug misusers. There is a need to increase knowledge about the natural history, prevalence, transmission and treatment of hepatitis C so that the National Health Service is equipped to deliver services based on the best scientific advice available about the disease. In 1996, the Department made £1 million available for research in these areas. The results of the research commissioned so far will become available over the next three years. A further £500,000 will be allocated this year to expand the research programme. In addition, the NHS Health Technology Assessment is considering research proposals to establish the effectiveness of the early treatment of chronic hepatitis C with alpha interferon. The NHS Executive is funding the Royal College of Physicians to facilitate the development of clinical guidelines on the appropriate use of alpha interferon in patients with hepatitis C.

Date

29 October 1997

Reference

12300; 299 c826-7W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

What plans he has to extend routine breast screening to those over 65 years.

Asked by

Jackie Ballard (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

31 July 1997

Reference

11609; 299 c618W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Month

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher