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Residual income |Scale 1 |Scale 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From £10,600 to £13,500 |£1 in £7 |£1 in £9.3 From £13,501 to £19,800 |£1 in £5 |£1 in £6.6 From £19,801 |£1 in £4 |£1 in £5.3 (3) The maximum contribution, which applies to parents with more than one child holding an award, will rise from £4,900 to £5,300. The minimum contribution will be increased from £50 to £60 for parents whose student children began their courses before the 1988-89 academic year (and whose grant is assessed on scale 1) and from £37 to £45 where students first entered higher education in 1988-89 or later (and whose grant is assessed accordingly to scale 2). (4) The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end and where the contribution is in respect of one award-holder only. This will depend on the amount of grant against which the contribution has to be set and whether any of the assessed contribution is offset by allowances for other dependent children.
Technology Training
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the European Community programme, second phase, on co-operation between universities and enterprises regarding training in the field of technology (Comett II) ; what funds will be available to the United Kingdom under this phase ; and what will be the net cost to Her Majesty's Treasury.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : Her Majesty's Government are today negotiating at the Labour and Social Affairs Council the terms of the proposed second phase of the European Community programme on co-operation between universities and enterprises regarding training in technology. As soon as a final decision has been reached, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.
Schools (Computers)
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that schools have access to computers capable of running MS-DOS software.
Column 759
Mr. Butcher : Education support grants are now available to LEAs for the purchase of microcomputers, including those which run MS-DOS software.
Column 760
HEALTH
Personal Social Services
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) amount and (b) proportion of total public spending on personal social services is accounted for by local authorities for each year since 1967-68 projected to 1990-91 in 1987-88 prices.
Mr. Mellor : The information requested is shown in the table for 1971-72 and later years. Information prior to 1971-72 is not available in a comparable form.
|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local authority PSS
(current and capital) |2,528 |2,574 |2,672 |2,707 |2,670 |2,870 |3,060 |3,151 |3,086 |3,092
Local authority as percentage of total |99.4 |99.5 |99.4 |99.5 |99.5 |99.5 |99.5 |99.5 |99.4 |99.4
Figures are derived from public expenditure White Papers up to and including the 1988 edition, as subsequently amended by the
1988 Autumn Statement. The figures up to and including 1986-87 are final outturn, 1987-88 are provisional outturn, 1988-89 are
local authority budgets and 1989-90, 1990-91 are planned provision.
It should be noted that from 1977-78 local authority net expenditure includes recharged central administration.
|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local authority PSS
(current and capital) |2,528 |2,574 |2,672 |2,707 |2,670 |2,870 |3,060 |3,151 |3,086 |3,092
Local authority as percentage of total |99.4 |99.5 |99.4 |99.5 |99.5 |99.5 |99.5 |99.5 |99.4 |99.4
Figures are derived from public expenditure White Papers up to and including the 1988 edition, as subsequently amended by the
1988 Autumn Statement. The figures up to and including 1986-87 are final outturn, 1987-88 are provisional outturn, 1988-89 are
local authority budgets and 1989-90, 1990-91 are planned provision.
It should be noted that from 1977-78 local authority net expenditure includes recharged central administration.
Grading
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each health authority in the northern region the number of nurses in each grade prior to any review or appeal.
Column 760
Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table.
Column 759
The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff
Numbers of old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on
1st April 1988:
Northern Regional Health Authority
District Staff in pNumbers transferred to
Equivalenteach new clinical grade
|A |B |C |D |E |F |G<1> |H |I
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hartlepool |676.00 |108.00 |5.00 |128.00 |75.00 |162.00 |73.00 |108.00 |17.00 |-
North Tees |1,037.00 |164.00 |42.00 |152.00 |140.0 |275.00 |59.00 |170.00 |28.00 |7.00
South Tees |2,343.00 |381.00 |60.00 |125.00 |574.00 |558.00 |274.00 |294.00 |41.00 |36.00
East Cumbria |1,319.00 |300.00 |22.00 |202.00 |181.00 |307.00 |79.00 |185.00 |26.00 |17.00
South Cumbria |1,010.00 |240.00 |11.00 |158.00 |146.00 |186.00 |47.00 |180.00 |26.00 |16.00
West Cumbria |979.00 |246.00 |30.00 |62.00 |206.00 |182.0o |58.00 |152.00 |30.00 |13.00
Darlington |1,042.00 |175.00 |56.00 |168.00 |238.00 |191.00 |35.00 |138.00 |40.00 |1.00
Durham |1,067.00 |223.00 |20.00 |113.00 |228.00 |180.00 |58.00 |212.00 |24.00 |9.00
North West Durham |597.00 |131.00 |1.00 |44.00 |127.00 |139.00 |53.00 |89.00 |7.00 |6.00
South West Durham |1,321.00 |389.00 |10.00 |15.00 |304.00 |274.00 |109.00 |176.00 |37.00 |7.00
Northumberland |2,836.00 |968.00 |34.00 |375.00 |314.00 |398.00 |216.00 |446.00 |58.00 |27.00
Gateshead |1,237.00 |293.00 |20.00 |119.00 |252.00 |211.00 |95.00 |206.00 |31.00 |10.00
Newcastle |4,253.00 |758.00 |103.00 |509.00 |1,009.00 |850.00 |333.00 |529.00 |103.00 |59.00
North Tyneside |845.00 |155.00 |12.00 |99.00 |137.00 |159.00 |73.00 |176.00 |21.00 |13.00
South Tyneside |846.00 |211.00 |13.00 |94.00 |132.00 |164.00 |56.00 |151.00 |18.00 |7.00
Sunderland |2,117.00 |430.00 |31.00 |277.00 |335.00 |466.00 |146.00 |359.00 |66.00 |7.00
Blood Transfusion |68.00 |59.00 |- |3.00 |3.00 |1.00 |- |1.00 |1.00 |-
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |23,593.00|5,231.00 |470.00 |2,643.00 |4,401.00 |4,703.00 |1,764.00 |3,572.00 |574.00 |235.00
<1> Excludes some additional 6' posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing
two-sister wards.
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
Column 760
from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in South Manchester district health authority.Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table.
Column 761
The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff
Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: South Manchester
Numbers transferred to
each new clinical grade
Previous grade |Staff in post whole time|A |B |C |D |E |F |<1>G |H |I
|equivalents
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nursing Auxiliary |598.10 |556.60 |40.50 |1.00 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nursery Nurse |36.60 |- |36.60 |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Enrolled Nurse<2> |497.90 |- |- |186.61 |306.29 |5.00 |- |- |- |-
Enrolled District Nurse<2> |22.00 |- |- |- |22.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Enrolled Nurse<2> |52.10 |- |- |- |39.90 |10.20 |1.00 |1.00 |- |-
Staff Nurse<2> |535.60 |- |- |- |175.30 |257.20 |103.10 |- |- |-
Staff Midwife<2> |64.40 |- |- |- |12.20 |52.20 |- |- |- |-
Deputy Sister<2> |13.30 |- |- |- |- |- |12.30 |1.00 |- |-
Nursing Sister II<2> |362.40 |- |- |- |- |- |152.50 |205.40 |4.50 |-
Midwifery Sister II<2> |113.20 |- |- |- |- |- |65.15 |47.05 |1.0 |-
District Nurse (Sister II)<2> |40.80 |- |- |- |- |- |5.40 |29.00 |4.40 |2.00
Nursing Sister I |7.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |5.00 |- |2.00
Midwifery Sister I |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Health Visitor |43.30 |- |- |- |- |- |- |41.30 |2.00 |-
Senior Nurse 8 |53.70 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |20.00 |33.70
Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife) |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Nurse 7 |18.80 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |6.80 |12.00
Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife) |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Clinical Teacher |6.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |6.00 |-
Fieldwork Teacher |5.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |5.00 |-
Practical Work Teacher |10.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |10.00 |-
Tutor |5.60 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |5.60
Tutor Midwife |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Post Basic Students
Enrolled |22.00 |- |- |22.00 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse |87.00 |- |- |- |87.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Deputy Sister |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Sister II |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Others |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
|-------
Totals |2,594.80 |556.60 |77.10 |209.61 |642.69 |324.60 |33945 |329.75 |59.70 |55.30
<1> Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.
<2> Excludes Post Basic Students.
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
Column 762
from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Durham district health authority.Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table.
Column 761
The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff
Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: Durham
Numbers transferred to
each new clinical grade
Previous grade |Staff in post whole time|A |B |C |D |E |F |<1>G |H |I
|equivalents
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nursing Auxiliary |240.00 |223.00 |17.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nursery Nurse |3.00 |- |3.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Enrolled Nurse<2> |235.00 |- |- |104.00 |130.00 |1.00 |- |- |- |-
Enrolled District Nurse<2> |14.00 |- |- |- |14.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Enrolled Nurse<2> |14.00 |- |- |- |14.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse<2> |219.00 |- |- |- |50.00 |150.00 |18.00 |1.00 |- |-
Staff Midwife<2> |35.00 |- |- |- |2.00 |30.00 |3.00 |- |- |-
Deputy Sister<2> |11.00 |- |- |- |- |- |11.00 |- |- |-
Nursing Sister II<2> |106.00 |- |- |- |- |- |22.00 |82.00 |2.00
Midwifery Sister II<2> |33.00 |- |- |- |- |- |4.00 |28.00 |1.00 |-
District Nurse (Sister II)<2> |57.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |56.00 |1.00 |-
Nursing Sister I |1.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |- |-
Midwifery Sister I |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Health Visitor |37.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |35.00 |2.00 |-
Senior Nurse 8 |6.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |5.00 |-
Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife) |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Nurse 7 |10.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |1.00 |8.00
Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife) |1.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |-
Clinical Teacher |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Fieldwork Teacher |8.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |3.00 |5.00 |-
Practical Work Teacher |9.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |3.00 |6.00 |-
Tutor |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Tutor Midwife |1.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00
Post Basic Students
Enrolled |6.00 |- |- |6.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse |20.00 |- |- |- |18.00 |2.00 |- |- |- |-
Deputy Sister |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Sister II |1.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |- |-
Others |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
|-------
Totals |1,067.00 |232.00 |20.00 |110.00 |228.00 |183.00 |58.00 |212.00 |24.00 |9.00
<1> Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.
<2> Excludes Post Basic Students.
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
Column 764
from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Sheffield district health authority.Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table.
Column 763
The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff
Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: Sheffield
Numbers transferred to
each new clinical grade
Previous grade |Staff in post whole time|A |B |C |D |E |F |<1>G |H |I
|equivalents
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nursing Auxiliary |1,441.58 |1,277.91 |163.67 |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nursery Nurse |45.13 |- |45.13 |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Enrolled Nurse<2> |1,060.54 |- |- |280.47 |581.35 |198.72 |- |- |- |-
Enrolled District Nurse<2> |81.00 |- |- |- |81.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Enrolled Nurse<2> |85.55 |- |- |- |33.55 |52.00 |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse<2> |1,202.05 |- |- |- |198.51 |901.25 |102.29 |- |- |-
Staff Midwife<2> |100.40 |- |- |- |12.00 |87.35 |1.05 |- |- |-
Deputy Sister<2> |36.91 |- |- |- |- |1.00 |34.91 |1.00 |- |-
Nursing Sister II<2> |691.46 |- |- |- |- |- |300.43 |359.30 |31.73 |-
Midwifery Sister II<2> |80.94 |- |- |- |- |- |52.54 |28.40 |- |-
District Nurse (Sister II)<2> |160.32 |- |- |- |- |- |- |160.32 |- |-
Nursing Sister I |2.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |1.00 |-
Midwifery Sister I |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Health Visitor |88.73 |- |- |- |- |- |- |88.73 |- |-
Senior Nurse 8 |57.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |5.00 |29.00 |23.00
Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife) |5.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |2.00 |3.00
Senior Nurse 7 |60.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |4.00 |56.00
Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife) |7.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |6.00
Clinical Teacher |21.22 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |21.22 |-
Fieldwork Teacher |12.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12.00 |-
Practical Work Teacher |16.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |16.00 |-
Tutor |35.90 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |35.90
Tutor Midwife |8.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |8.00
Post Basic Students
Enrolled |48.00 |- |- |48.00 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse |218.50 |- |- |- |200.50 |18.00 |- |- |- |-
Deputy Sister |3.00 |- |- |- |- |- |3.00 |- |- |-
Sister II |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Others |2.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |1.00 |-
|-------
Totals |5,570.23 |1,277.91 |208.80 |328.47 |1,106.91 |1,258.85 |493.69 |644.75 |118.95 |131.90
<1> Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.
<2> Excludes Post Basic Students.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
Column 764
from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Newcastle district health authority.Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table.
Column 765
The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff
Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: Newcastle upon Tyne
Numbers transferred to
each new clinical grade
Previous grade |Staff in post (whole time|A |B |C |D |E |F |<1>G |H |I
|equivalents)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nursing Auxiliary |845.00 |758.00 |85.00 |2.00 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nursery Nurse |26.00 |- |18.00 |7.00 |1.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Enrolled Nurse<2> |997.00 |- |- |452.00 |523.00 |22.00 |- |- |- |-
Enrolled District Nurse<2> |19.00 |- |- |- |19.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Enrolled Nurse<2> |24.00 |- |- |- |12.00 |12.00 |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse<2> |1184.00 |- |- |- |280.00 |735.00 |167.00 |2.00 |- |-
Staff Midwife<2> |82.00 |- |- |- |3.00 |56.00 |23.00 |- |- |-
Deputy Sister<2> |24.00 |- |- |- |- |24.00 |- |- |- |-
Nursing Sister II<2> |459.00 |- |- |- |- |- |116.00 |316.00 |27.00 |-
Midwifery Sister II<2> |90.00 |- |- |- |- |- |25.00 |61.00 |4.00 |-
District Nurse (Sister II)<2> |80.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |77.00 |3.00 |-
Nursing Sister I |25.00 |- |- |- |- |- |1.00 |9.00 |12.00 |3.00
Midwifery Sister I |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Health Visitor |63.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |62.00 |1.00 |-
Senior Nurse 8 |24.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2.00 |11.00 |11.00
Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife) |9.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |2.00 |7.00
Senior Nurse 7 |38.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12.00 |26.00
Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife) |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Clinical Teacher |8.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |8.00 |-
Fieldwork Teacher |11.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |11.00 |-
Practical Work Teacher |12.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12.00 |-
Tutor |6.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |6.00
Tutor Midwife |6.00 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |6.00
Post Basic Students
Enrolled |48.00 |- |- |48.00 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staff Nurse |171.00 |- |- |- |171.00 |- |- |- |- |-
Deputy Sister |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Sister II |2.00 |- |- |- |- |- |2.00 |- |- |-
Others |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Totals |4253.00 |758.00 |103.00 |509.00 |1009.00 |850.00 |333.00 |529.00 |103.00 |59.00
<1> Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.
<2> Excludes Post Basic Students.
Hepatitis B
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy for encouraging a programme of vaccination against hepatitis B ; what guidance he has given to general medical practitioners on this matter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mellor : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 12 December at column 450 about immunisation programmes for health authority staff. The guidance from the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, which was sent to all doctors in the United Kingdom in July, deals also with other at risk groups for whom immunisation by general medical practitioners may be appropriate.
Residential Homes
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has any current plans to review the Registered Homes Act 1984 ; (2) whether there are any current plans to extend registration requirements to all residential nursing homes with more than two residents ;
(3) whether he has any plans to seek to change the existing statutory requirements for head managers of residential homes to be suitably qualified ; and whether he
Column 766
will consider setting out prescribed training to be undertaken on a continuing basis by staff directly involved in caring for residents ;(4) whether he will introduce regulations to ensure that individual programme plans are introduced and published for each client in a registered residential home.
Mr. Mellor : Sir Roy Griffiths' report, "Community Care : An Agenda for Action" and Lady Wagner's "A Positive Choice" contain recommendations with implications for the registration system for residential care homes including the regulation of homes with fewer than four residents. Some of these recommendations would require amendment of the Act. The latter report also included proposals concerning the qualifications and training of the management and staff of homes and arrangements for the care of residents. We are considering these reports and the responses to them and will be bringing forward our own proposals in due course. Copies of both reports are in the Library. There are no legislative provisions governing the qualifications of managers of residential homes ; that is a matter for registration authorities to determine.
Smoking
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of recorded deaths (a) from drug addiction and (b) from smoking-related diseases for the last year for which figures are available.
Column 767
Mrs. Currie : The number of deaths of persons aged 28 days and over registered with drug dependence (ICD 304) as the underlying cause of death in England and Wales in 1987 is 165.
It is not possible to be precise about smoking-related deaths. Most deaths associated with cigarette smoking arise from three diseases : lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and "heart attacks" due to obstruction of the arteries of the heart. However, the proportion of deaths attributable to smoking from each of these diseases varies. Furthermore, smoking is also implicated in certain other conditions where no estimate of the numbers of the deaths caused by smoking is available--for example, obstruction of the arteries of the lower limbs, and strokes.
It is estimated that at least 90 per cent. of deaths from cancers of the lung, lip, oesophagus and larynx, and 90 per cent. of deaths from chronic brochitis, obstructive lung disease, chronic pulmonary heart disease and aortic aneurysm are attributable to smoking. The total number of deaths from these conditions involved is given in the table.
England and Wales 1987 ICD<1> code |Number<2> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 410-414 |Ischaemic heart disease|155,235 <1> International classification of diseases 9th revision. <2> Persons, at ages 28 days and over.
England and Wales 1987 ICD<1> code |Number<2> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 410-414 |Ischaemic heart disease|155,235 <1> International classification of diseases 9th revision. <2> Persons, at ages 28 days and over.
In its report "Health or Smoking" (1983) the Royal College of Physicians estimated that perhaps 20 per cent. of deaths due to obstruction of the arteries of the heart were related to smoking. The medical term for this condition is "ischaemic heart disease", but it is commonly referred to as "coronary heart disease". The total number of deaths from this condition for England and Wales is as follows :
Medicines
Mr. Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total value of parallel imports of prescription medicines in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Mellor : The latest information is for 1986 when a representative sample survey of purchasing of prescription medicines for the National Health Service by pharmacists gave an estimate of about £30 million as the value of parallel imported medicines dispensed by pharmacists.
Column 768
Resources
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure that the scientific services involved in patient care are adequately staffed and funded ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mellor : The numbers of staff working in scientific services overall continues to increase.
Regional health authorities have been asked to prepare for all staff groups --including scientific staff--manpower supply strategic assessing demand ; supply measures necessary to meet assessed demand together with proposed steps to deal with any shortfalls. Also where necessary to produce training strategies.
Overall staffing levels and funding of scientific services is a matter for local determination.
Community Care
Sir Geoffrey Pattie : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is possessed by his Department in relation to the provision of services in the community for the mentally ill as set out in the 1975 White Paper, and whether the targets set out in the White Paper still apply.
Mr. Mellor : The Command Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill", published in 1975 by the then Labour Government, did not set illustrative targets.
The development of mental illness services, including the shift to locally- based services, is a regular feature of the annual review meeting which Ministers and the National Health Service management board hold with each regional health authority. This forum is the main method by which health authorities are held accountable for their work. In addition, the Department's social services inspectorate maintains liaison with local social services departments, taking an interest in the development of their services, including those for patients discharged from mental hospitals.
Salmonella
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a further statement on the alleged salmonella outbreak in eggs.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Today's newspapers will carry the first run of an advertisement advising consumers about eating eggs. The advertisement will be carried by national daily, Sunday and leading regional newspapers over the coming weekend. These advertisements set out the facts of the matter and give clear and sensible advice to consumers.
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much evidence there is of salmonella enteriditis existing in the egg yolk before the egg is laid ; and by whom and where this evidence was obtained.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : A number of scientific papers by American and European researchers report that certain salmonella serotypes including salmonella enteritidis may infect the ovaries and oviducts of laying hens with the resulting potential to contaminate egg contents before the egg is laid. Two recent papers by research workers in the United Kingdom report the isolation of salmonella enteritidis from the ovary of birds from a broiler breeder flock and the ovary, oviducts and yolk of soft shelled egg in hens from a commercial laying flock.
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Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures were taken to warn egg producers that the catering trade should use pasteurised bulk egg prior to the comments made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health concerning salmonella in fresh eggs.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Liaison with producer representatives has been a feature of the joint consultation between my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Producer representatives have known since July this year that caterers were being advised to use pasteurised egg instead of raw shell eggs in foods that were not to be cooked.
Radiographers and Pathologists
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographers and pathologists are employed in the National Health Service ; and how many of those radiographers and pathologists who have contracted out in the last 12 months were state registered.
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 12 December 1988] : We are not aware of such services at present being contracted out.
Such information as is available for radiographers and pathologists employed in the National Health Service is as follows :
NHS staff in post in England at 30 September 1987
|Number<1> |Whole time equivalent<2>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non medical staff
Radiographers<3> |9,400 |8,250
Helpers |370 |270
Radiography<4> |9,770 |8,530
Medical staff
Pathologists<5> |2,910 |2,390
Source: DH annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.
<1>Figures are headcount independently rounded to the nearest ten (10).
<2>Figures are whole time equivalent independently rounded to nearest ten (10).
<3>Excludes helpers and technical assistant/driver technician.
<4>Includes helpers, excludes technical assistant/driver technician.
<5>Includes permanent paid, honorary and directly employed locums. Excludes agency locums (not
separately identified).
DEFENCE
Aircraft (Permitted Speeds)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the maximum permitted speeds for military aircraft in the United Kingdom low- flying system apply to aircraft authorised to fly down to 100 ft in the three tactical training areas ; and if he will make a statement.
Low-level Flying
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unit of the Royal Air Force Police has responsibility for surveying potential new areas for low flying.
Mr. Freeman : The flying complaints flight of the headquarters provost and security services (United
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Kingdom) is the unit responsible for surveying potential new areas for low flying, at the direction of the Ministry of Defence.Aircrew Training (Nuclear Power Stations)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what means are used to provide realistic training of Royal Air Force aircrews in attacks on nuclear power stations in wartime.
Mr. Freeman : It is not our practice to comment on wartime targeting policy. The RAF does not use nuclear power stations as targets during low flying training.
Aircraft (Noise)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the locations of complaints about noise from low-flying aircraft are mapped by his Department in order to monitor the distribution of noise disturbance.
Mr. Freeman : The locations of inquiries and complaints about low- flying aircraft are mapped to show their distribution and indicate particular problem areas. Not all representations are primarily concerned with aircraft noise, and the map does not purport to indicate the distribution of aircraft noise disturbance.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all research work currently being carried out (a) by his Department and (b) by external agencies under contract to his Department investigating the health effects of aircraft noise on human beings and animals.
Mr. Sainsbury : No specific research work on the health effects of external aircraft noise is currently being carried out by MOD, either internally or under outside contracts, but we do, of course, monitor developments in this field. The MOD contributed to early work on the human response to noise measurements units which are embodied in the current aircraft noise legislation.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the final report of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's pilot study "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society" will be published.
Mr. Freeman : Work on the pilot study is continuing and the final report is unlikely to be completed before the end of 1989. The timing of its subsequent publication is a matter for NATO.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what additional measures have been introduced in the United Kingdom, following the recommendation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's interim report "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society," that efforts to inform the public of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's reasons for low flying and the steps taken to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise, should be expanded ;
(2) what contribution is being made by his Department to the development by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation committee on the challenges of modern society, of a public information package on the noise impact of aircraft operations.
Mr. Freeman : Following publication of the North Atlantic Organisation (NATO) committee on the
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challenges of modern society's interim report, it was decided that expansion of the reasons for low flying and the steps taken to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise should take the form of a NATO public information package.The development of this package is being led by the NATO directorate of information. The Ministry of Defence has made available examples of the material in use in the United Kingdom and has responded to a questionnaire circulated by the director of information. The Department is participating fully in the programme of work through its representation on the committee established under the chairmanship of the dirctor of information. Meanwhile, the Department continues to recognise the importance of providing adequate infomation to the public about low flying, the need for it, and the steps taken to minimise consequent disturbance. Our efforts include responding to complaints and inquiries, distributing a pamphlet and making available a video on low flying, briefing journalists and flying them in front-line aircraft, and arranging presentations to the public by both the RAF presentation team and the low flying presentation team.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by his Department to implement the recommendation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's pilot study "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society" that multinational research into the long-term effects of aircraft noise on humans, animals and structures should be vigorously pursued.
Mr. Freeman : When I wrote to the hon. Member on 31 July 1987 I explained that the analysis of international data on the effects of aircraft noise on humans, animals and structures with a view to working towards the development of agreed technical assessment criteria was one of the tasks to be addressed further by the pilot study. This is continuing. In parallel, the Ministry of Defence continues to participate in international symposia and is also in discussion with academic institutions.
Calder Hall and Chapelcross (Replacement Reactors)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any meetings with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. officials on the future funding of replacement plutonium and tritium production reactors at Calder Hall and Chapelcross, respectively.
Military Personnel (Travel Restrictions)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions on travel to Communist countries exist for serving military personnel.
Mr. Freeman : Serving personnel who wish to visit a Communist country are required to seek approval in advance of their visit. Each application is considered on its merits.
Equipment Procurement (Anglo-French Meeting)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress arising from the
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third Anglo-French meeting on co-operation in procurement of military equipment held on 23 November ; and if short and intermediate range nuclear weapon systems have been discussed at any of these three meetings.Mr. Sainsbury : The Anglo-French conference which was held on 23 and 24 November covered air systems equipment. Previous conferences have covered land and sea systems. The conferences form part of an initiative aimed at increasing co-operation to avoid costly duplication of development effort in conventional equipment. Progress on this initiative has been good and a framework of administrative measures, including the publication of contracts bulletins in both countries, has now been established. Some contracts have already been signed and more tenders are under consideration on both sides of the Channel. No nuclear projects have been discussed.
Radioactive Waste (Devonport)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the total volume and curie content of the radioactive waste stored at Plymouth, Devonport.
Mr. Sainsbury : No. It is not our practice to disclose information about quantities and radioactivity levels of intermediate level nuclear waste.
Low Flying (Public Meetings)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of public meetings on low flying held by his Department in Wales since 1979.
Mr. Freeman : According to available records, the Ministry of Defence has held the following public meetings on low flying in Wales since 1979.
Date |Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 September 1982 |Carmarthen, Dyfed 15 October 1986 |Raglan, Gwent 27 July 1987 |Aberedw, Powys 27 May 1988 |Dolgellau, Gwynedd 27 July 1988 |Kidwelly, Dyfed 28 July 1988 |Tumble, Dyfed
Royal Aircraft Establishment
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the acreage of the site currently occupied by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Farnborough site comprises 1,196 acres. This includes the airfield and the 50 acre site which is being leased out as a civil enclave. The nearby Royal Aircraft Establishment site at Pyestock comprises 257 acres.
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report details of the number of people employed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough together with a breakdown of their Civil Service grades and total salaries paid for each grade.
Mr. Sainsbury : The total number of people employed by the Royal Aerospace Establishment as a whole at 1 April 1988 was 5,378. It is not our policy to provide further breakdown of this figure.
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Farnborough (Runway Length)
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the length of each runway at Farnborough.
Mr. Sainsbury : The lengths are :
|Metres
---------------------------
Runway 07-25 |2,400
Runway 18-36 |1,196
Runway 11-29 |1,350
Army Guns (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the use by the Army in Northern Ireland of guns previously withdrawn from Regular Army service.
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