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Mr. Forth : I shall shortly be completing a wide-ranging programme of discussions with the leading estate agency bodies and other interested parties to consider the practices of estate agents in the operation of the property transfer system. The Government's interim conclusions on the relevant issues were outlined in a recent speech given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I have placed copies of the text of this speech in the House Library for reference.

Manufacturing

Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest industrial trends on overseas order books for manufacturing ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins : The latest CBI monthly industrial trends survey (November) shows that export order books have weakened from the high levels seen at the beginning of the year--a balance of 4 per cent. of manufacturers considers its export order book to be below normal. However, the


Column 366

latest full quarterly survey (October) showed that manufacturing industry continues to be optimistic about export prospects and so far this year the volume of exports of manufactured goods has increased by some 6 per cent. compared with the same period last year.

Tobacco Factories

Mr. Parry : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many tobacco factories have been closed since 1 January 1980 ; where they were located ; and how many jobs were lost as a result.

Mr. Atkins : No official statistics are collected on tobacco industry factory closures, nor on the number of redundancies. The Department is aware of the following closures of tobacco factories since 1 January 1980 to date :

1981--cigarette factory (Carreras Rothmans, Rayleigh, Essex) 1983-- cigarette factory (Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Stirling)

cigarette factory (Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Glasgow)

cigar factory (Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Bristol)

1984--cigarette factory (Carreras Rothmans, Basildon)

1985--cigarette factory (Gallaher, Middleton)

cigarette factory (Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Newcastle)

cigar factory (Gallaher, Lisnafillan)

1986--cigarette factory (Carreras Rothmans, Carrickfergus) 1987--cigarette factory (Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Swindon) 1988--cigarette factory (Gallaher, Belfast)

Takeovers

Mr. Grylls : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures have to be followed should a company, asked to enter into assurances not to buy shares in a particular company following a Monopolies and Mergers Commission refusal to allow a takeover, seek to be released from such assurances.

Mr. Maude : The Director General of Fair Trading will advise the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on whether undertakings given following a Monopolies and Mergers Commission report should be varied or superseded, in accordance with section 88(4) of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

Lawnmowers

Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether two-stroke and four-stroke lawnmower engines can be converted to run on unleaded petrol.

Mr. Atkins : All petrol-driven two and four-stroke engines in lawnmowers currently on sale in the United Kingdom can be run on unleaded petrol without requiring conversion.

Shares

Mr. Favell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department is considering any proposals to enable shares to be held, and transferred, without the need for share certificates.

Mr. Maude : My Department has just published a consultative paper on possible changes to the law which, if both the company and shareholder wished, would enable shares to be held on computer, without certificates, and to be transferred without the need for paper transfer forms. I have arranged for a copy of the paper to be placed in the Library of the House.


Column 367

Lloyd's

Mr. Favell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made by Lloyd's in the implementation of the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into regulatory arrangements at Lloyd's.

Mr. Maude : The chairman of Lloyd's recently submitted a memorandum recording Lloyd's progress to date. This shows that, of the 69 recommendations which were for Lloyd's to implement, it has implemented or is in the course of implementing all but nine. Work on these is still in hand and we will continue to monitor Lloyd's progress towards their early implementation. A copy of the memorandum has today been placed in the Library.

Electric Bulbs

Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the current levels of sales of home-produced and imported low-energy and long-life electric light bulbs.

Mr. Atkins [holding answer 30 November 1988] : This information is not available as official statistics do not separately identify these types of lamps.

EMPLOYMENT

Benefit Fraud

Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's initiative to counter unemployment benefit fraud.

Mr. Lee : The White Paper "Training for Employment" issued earlier this year outlined the importance the Government place on ensuring that benefits are paid only to those entitled to receive them and re-emphasised our determination to reduce fraudulent claims. To this end my Department has increased its resources devoted to fraud detection, particularly in London and the south-east where a new inner London fraud team is being set up.

There are more investigations being conducted into the hidden economy--over 223,000 in the first half of 1988-89 compared with 185, 000 for the same period in 1987-88--with particular emphasis on targeting collusive employers.

There is also an increasing level of co-operation between my Department and the Department of Social Security and the Inland Revenue on the investigation of fraudulent benefit claims.

Rural Areas

Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the steps his Department is taking to relieve unemployment in rural areas.

Mr. Lee : My Department is playing its part with other interested Departments to foster improvements in the economy of rural areas, notably through encouraging and supporting enterprise, small businesses and tourism. In addition, the full range of our employment, enterprise and training measures are available to help unemployed people in all rural areas.


Column 368

Benefits (Registration)

Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people drawing unemployment benefit are not registered at jobcentres as job seekers.

Mr. Lee : Since the introduction of voluntary registration in October 1982, unemployed job-seekers are still required to be available for work, but are no longer required to register at jobcentres as a pre- condition for claiming unemployment. Certain categories of job-seekers are still offered registration but detailed statistics are no longer collected.

Job Creation (Southwark and Bermondsey)

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department intends to take to ensure the creation and retention of jobs for local people in the Southwark and Bermondsey constituency.

Mr. Lee : My Department, through its employment service and Training Agency, operates a wide range of employment, enterprise and training measures, which are all available in Southwark and Bermondsey, as well as elsewhere.

In addition, the Docklands liaison group co-ordinates the local activities of the employment service and the Training Agency and helps to streamline links with local organisations, with the aim of helping local unemployed people take advantage of the many new opportunities which the regeneration of the London docklands is providing. An employment training project to train local people in construction skills has recently opened in Southwark. This will build up to 175 places.

During the 12 months to October 1988 unemployment in Southwark and Bermondsey has fallen by 910, 13.5 per cent. of the October 1987 figure.

Restart Interviews

Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give, for the Coventry and Warwickshire area and nationally (a) the numbers called each months for a restart interview, since the inception of the scheme, broken down by gender and, where available, age range, (b) the numbers that attended the interviews, (c) the numbers of non-attenders who received a second invitation indicating the consequences of non-attendance regarding eligibility for benefit and (d) the numbers who did not attend for interview after the second letter ; and of these, how many subsequently were declared ineligible for benefit ;

(2) if he will give, for the Coventry and Warwickshire area and nationally, the numbers of people called each month for a restart interview since the inception of the scheme, broken down by gender and, where available, age range, who subsequently were (a) offered and (b) accepted : (i) a job, (ii) a community programme placement, (iii) a place on a restart course, (iv) a job training scheme placement, (v) referral to a job club, (vi) referral to enterprise allowance, (vii) referral to VPP projects, (viii) referral to employment training, (ix) other training, by type, and (x) other schemes, by type.

Mr. Lee : The figures are not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.


Column 369

Tourism

Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had, or plans to have, with tourist authorities as part of his current review of tourism.

Mr. Lee : I have had meetings with the chairman and boards of the BTA and ETB to discuss the review. The review team has also had wide- ranging consultations with national, regional and local tourist bodies.

YTS

Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of young people, both nationally and in south Yorkshire, who are currently unemployed and who currently have not found or been offered a place on YTS.

Mr. Cope : This information is not available. Only the local careers service will know the number of young people seeking a YTS place at any one time.

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 to 18-year-olds have been offered a YTS placement ; how many remain to be contacted ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : From 1 April to 31 October, the latest available date, it is estimated that 266,700 young people have joined YTS. No information is available on the numbers who have declined a placement. At the end of October more than 435,000 young people were in training on YTS providing them with a sound foundation training for their future working lives.

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of 16 to 18-year-olds who have accepted offers on a YTS placement ; how many have declined a placement ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : This information is not available. Only the local authority careers services will have any indication of the numbers involved. However, I am satisfied that the Training Agency has made available more than sufficient places to meet the potential uptake.


Column 370

Teenagers

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision is made for difficult-to-place teenagers ; what measures are being considered to increase the level of provision ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : There are more than sufficient premium places on YTS to cater for difficult-to-place young people. The scope of funding for the disabled has been widened to include, for example, young people with emotional or behavioural problems. YTS initial training has been introduced for those young people who need a period of preparation and assessment before entering mainstream YTS. Places for difficult young people are also available on community industry.

I believe that these increased measures provide a valuable foundation at the start of their working lives for young people with difficulties.

Mr. Samuel Thomas Antonelli

Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether Samuel Thomas Antonelli, a United States citizen resident at 147 b-- Clapton Common, London E5 9AE is in possession of a valid work permit.

Mr. Lee : There is no record of a work permit being issued for this person.

HEALTH

Nurses (Grading)

Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of clinical nursing and midwifery staff have been assimilated to each of the new clinical grades by district and by region in England.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The information requested is given in the table.

Variations between regions and districts are accounted for by such factors as :

(i) differences in the pattern of service provision, including the balance between hospital and community care ;

(ii) differences in the composition of the nursing and midwifery workforce at 1 April 1988, including the proportions of unqualified staff and of first and second level qualified nurses ;

(iii) differences in the number and size of hospitals, including long-stay psychiatric hospitals, within each authority.


Column 369


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Column 373


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Column 375


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                


Region and district                          Percentage movement to                                                           Staff in post (wh

                                             each grade                                                                       equivalents)     

                                            |A       |B       |C       |D       |E       |F       |G       |H       |I                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAs                                                                                                                                           

The Hospital for Sick Children              |6.3     |5.6     |2.9     |28.6    |27.9    |9.5     |10.7    |4.1     |4.4     |954.66           

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases |14.3    |0.9     |2.3     |19.9    |39.2    |6.9     |11.2    |2.6     |2.8     |429.10           

Moorfields Eye Hospital                     |4.4     |-       |0.7     |38.1    |21.1    |13.7    |13.3    |5.9     |2.6     |270.00           

Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals        |17.8    |0.9     |11.3    |15.2    |34.1    |5.0     |9.6     |4.0     |2.0     |697.66           

The National Heart and Chest Hospitals      |6.8     |0.5     |8.6     |33.7    |25.8    |9.2     |9.6     |4.7     |1.1     |757.90           

The Royal Marsden Hospital                  |0.8     |-       |2.3     |31.6    |26.2    |27.2    |7.4     |2.9     |1.7     |443.54           

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's           |10.8    |2.5     |12.6    |20.2    |29.9    |7.7     |12.8    |2.8     |0.8     |1,088.53         

The Eastman Dental Hospital                 |-       |-       |37.5    |37.5    |12.5    |-       |12.5    |-       |-       |8.00             

                                            |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------          

Total                                       |9.3     |2.0     |7.2     |25.5    |29.4    |10.0    |10.8    |3.7     |2.1     |-                

Alternative Medicine

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to establish a committee of practitioners of orthodox medicine, and acceptable forms of alternative medicine, to monitor unorthodox treatments given to sufferers of multiple sclerosis ; (2) if he will establish a registration scheme for practitioners who charge for treatment which does not comply with established practice in the medical profession, or other established bodies.

Mrs. Currie : No. Practitioners registered with the General Medical Council can offer to use any form of therapy, including any of the alternative therapies, if they consider it to be in the interests of their patients and they feel competent to provide it. Practitioners of alternative therapies who are not registered with the General Medical Council, and who are therefore not eligible to work by law within the NHS, can offer their services privately, subject only to those provisions of statute and civil law which apply.

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has that applied kinesiology can benefit patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.

Mrs. Currie : None whatever.

Calderdale

Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appeals have been made by nursing staff in Calderdale against the regrading system ; and how soon all these appeals will be heard.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke : We do not collect this information centrally. The question of when appeals will be heard is a local matter.


Column 380

Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to increase the ratio of National Health Service beds to population in Calderdale to the regional average ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) what plans he has to increase the ratio of full-time health staff to population in Calderdale to the regional average ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor : None. Regional average figures of this type have no meaning. It is not possible to compare one district with another in this way because, for example, some districts have large mental illness or mental handicap hospitals which serve a number of health authorities whilst others have beds for regional or sub regional specialties. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the Yorkshire regional health authority for a more detailed explanation of the position locally.

Ambulancemen

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the report he has received from the Ambulance Council working party entitled The Problems of Long Serving Ambulancemen ; and if he will make a statement on his response to the report.

Mr. Mellor : We intend giving the contents of the final report careful consideration when it is submitted to Ministers.

Community Care

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many former psychiatric hospital patients have been transferred to the community ; and if he will make a statement.


Column 381

Mr. Mellor : In 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 176,161 people, including readmissions during the year, were discharged from mental illness hospitals and units in England, and 1,082 of these patients had a length of stay of five years or more.

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that the current level of community care facilities is sufficient to accommodate all those psychiatric hospital patients returned to the community ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor : It is for the consultant psychiatrists and their professional colleagues to ensure that patients' needs are assessed, and arrangements are made with local authorities and other care agencies for those needs to be met, before discharging their patients.

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to increase the number of qualified medical personnel available to assess psychiatric hospital patients' needs in community care hostels ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor : We issued planning guidelines in July this year asking health authorities to ensure that a consultant psychiatrist in each district has special responsibility for rehabilitation and continuing care. This could extend to community care hostels.

Community care is a multi-disciplinary task and other hospital professionals, as well as the primary care team, also have an important assessment role.

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to make the medical reports of psychiatric hospital patients available to the community care hostels receiving these patients ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor : Caring for mentally disordered people in the community is a multi-disciplinary task. We have stressed the need for collaborative work in this area and the importance of this has been emphasised by the findings of the committee of inquiry into the care and after care of Miss Sharon Campbell. In sharing information doctors have to be mindful of the constraints of medical confidence and respect the wishes of the patient as to how such information is shared.

Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate current and future needs for community care facilities ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor : Current and projected need for community care facilities is one of the factors taken into account in determining the overall allocation of funding to regional health authorities and local authorities. It is for individual authorities to plan local services and resource allocation in the light of local needs and priorities.

Cook-chill Catering

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wakefield, Official Report, 28 November, when Mr. Arthur Pinegar, ceased to be involved in the private health laboratory involved in work on cook-chill catering.

Mrs. Currie : About one year ago.


Column 382

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wakefield, Official Report, 28 November, what is his policy on allowing microbiologists employed in the public health laboratory service also to operate private laboratories undertaking the evaluation and monitoring of cook-chill catering.

Mrs. Currie : The PHLs board's current policy is not to withhold permission for staff to engage in other remunerative work provided that there is no conflict of interest between that work and the employee's duties with the board, and that it does not prejudice the interests of the service.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wakefield, Official Report, 28 November, where the work on the growth and survival of listeria monocytogenes in foods prepared in cook-chill catering being undertaken by the public health laboratory service is being carried out.

Mrs. Currie : At the food hygiene laboratory of the PHLS, Colindale.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wakefield, Official Report, 28 November, whether the studies being undertaken by the public health laboratory service concerning the examination of meals provided in National Health Service cook-chill catering systems for the presence of listeria monocytogenes are being carried out.

Mrs. Currie : Yes.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wakefield, Official Report, 28 November, why more time is needed before his Department's guidelines on cook-chill catering can be published.

Mrs. Currie : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 14 November at column 478.


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