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Herbal Medicine: Statutory Regulation
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made towards the statutory regulation of herbalists.[HL8]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): A regulatory working group has recently published recommendations for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine practitioners. The Government welcome the publication of the working group's report and are giving careful consideration to its recommendations. A consultation document on the statutory regulation of both herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners will be published by the Department of Health early next year. A parallel consultation document on the supply of herbal remedies under Section 12(1) of the Medicines Act 1968 will be published by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
Mental Health Act Commission: Biennial Report
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish the 10th biennial report of the Mental Health Act Commission.[HL365]
Lord Warner: The Mental Health Act Commission's 10th biennial report, entitled Placed Amongst Strangers, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Major Depressive Disorder
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What advice they have received from the Committee on Safety of Medicines about the treatment of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents under 18 years.[HL366]
Lord Warner: The Department of Health has received new advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) about the use of selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in children under the age of 18 for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).
An expert working group of the CSM was established earlier this year to look at the safety of the whole class of SSRIs. The group has already advised on paroxetine and the related anti-depressant venlafaxine. It has now concluded that the balance of risks and benefits for the treatment of major depressive
disorder (MDD) in under-18s is unfavourable for the SSRIs sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram and unassessable for fluvoxamine.This new advice follows announcements in June and September that paroxetine and venlafaxine should not be used in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years to treat depressive illness. Like paroxetine and venlafaxine, none of these drugs has ever been licensed for use in under-18s, but we know they are used in this age group outside licensed indications, where prescribers make a judgment on their own responsibility that it is the right treatment for a particular patient.
Only fluoxetine (Prozac) was shown in clinical trials to have a positive balance of risks and benefits in the treatment of MDD in under-18s. There is no evidence to date to suggest that the risks of treatment outweigh the benefits in adults.
The CSM expert group has delivered comprehensive advice on the use of SSRIs in children and young people following a thorough review of all the evidence available. This represents the most detailed review to be completed so far and gives parents, young people and those who treat these serious illnesses the information they need to make informed decisions about treatment. The expert group will now focus its attention on finishing a complete review of the safety of the entire class of medicines in adults and young adults.
Communications to patients and prescribers are taking place today and copies of these materials have been placed in the Library. The benefits of taking these drugs are well established, but we know that some patients suffer significant side effects. Patients over 18 and patients who are benefiting from SSRIs should not be frightened into stopping their medication abruptly. Patients who are experiencing any side effects or are concerned about their treatment should discuss these with their doctor.
The Government are committed to ensuring that the wider aspects of suicide prevention remain at the top of the agenda and the National Institute for Mental Health in England has made suicide prevention one of its core policy programmes.
Single European Currency (Referendum) Bill
Baroness Wilkins asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish a draft Bill on the mechanics of running a referendum on the single European currency.[HL324]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin): My department has today published, as Cm 6081, a draft Single European Currency (Referendum) Bill. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a commitment to Parliament in June 2003 that a draft Bill would be published later this year.
This draft Bill sets out the Government's thinking on the terms on which any referendum on the European single currency would be held, subject to the five economic tests being met. This shows the Government's commitment to openness and transparency. Both the question and who would be able to vote in any referendum, if the five economic tests had been met, are set out in the draft Bill.
The Government will report on the progress of the reform agenda in the Budget next year. The Government can then consider the extent of progress and determine whether, on the basis of it, they make a further Treasury assessment of the five tests, which if positive next year would allow them at that time to put the issue before the electorate in a referendum.
Households: Numbers with People in Work
Baroness Greengross asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many men and how many women aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household
How many people aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household with no one in work and no one claiming a state benefit (excluding child benefit and basic state pension); and how many have a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs.[HL114]
(a) with someone in work;
(b) with someone in work and a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs;
(c) with no one in work; and
(d) with no one in work and a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs; and[HL113]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): 4.2 million men and 3.2 million women aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household with someone in work; of these 0.4 million men and 0.3 million women have a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs.
1.2 million men and 0.7 million women aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household with no one in work; of these 0.6 million men and 0.3 million women have a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs.
There are an estimated 200,000 people who live in a household where no one works or claims a state benefit (excluding child benefit and basic state pension); of these an estimated 100,000 have a household income below 60 per cent of median income after housing costs.
1. Source: Family Resources Survey (FRS).
2. Figures are for 2001–02, the latest year for which data are available.
3. Estimates are for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million.
4. Estimates relate to the household's status at the time they were interviewed for the FRS.
5. The estimates are sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and variability in non-response.
6. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household). Figures are quoted on an after housing costs basis and include the self-employed.
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): I refer the noble Baroness to Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions: the Government's Proposals, which is published today alongside the Pre-Budget Report. Copies are available in the Printed Paper Office and in the Library of the House.
Lord Taylor of Warwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Inland Revenue's compliance strategy for the new tax credits has been placed in the House of Lords Library and on the Inland Revenue website.
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their latest estimate of the number of individuals who would be affected if the proposed pension cap of £1.4 million were implemented in 2003–04; and, assuming annual rates of inflation of 2.5 per cent and average earnings of 3.5 per cent, how many individuals would be affected in 2008–09; 2013–14; and 2018–19.[HL9]
What steps they will take to remedy the errors in the Inland Revenue's accounting system, which led to an overpayment of tax credits of £2 billion in 2000–01.[HL32]
Whether they intend to amalgamate the Inland Revenue with HM Customs and Excise. [HL57]
10 Dec 2003 : Column WA75
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The work of the Revenue Departments Review, led by Gus O'Donnell, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, is ongoing. The review has made good progress and will report very soon.
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