| Previous Section | Home Page |
Disabled Persons
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in implementing section 5 of
Column 662
the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, in respect of its obligation to place duties upon educational authorities and social services authorities to identify, assess and provide for the needs of people with mental handicaps at the time that they move out of full-time education ; and what arrangements have been made to ensure that these facilities are being monitored in respect of their implementation in terms of quality of life.Mr. Michael Forsyth : Section 5 does not apply in Scotland. The relevant provision is section 13 which came into operation on 1 February 1988. We are currently considering appropriate monitoring arrangements.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement sections 1 and 2 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 ; and whether he will meet the cost implications required to appoint authorised representatives for all people with mental handicaps in connection with the provision of services and the right to obtain relevant information to facilitate an informed choice of a selection of appropriate support services.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : A date for implementing sections 1 and 2 has not yet been set. The cost implications of those provisions will be the subject of consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other interests.
Legal Aid
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish legal aid board will be authorised to pay legal aid accounts in cases where prior to the commencement of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations, work carried out by the solicitor had the effect of bringing proceedings to an end before a full section 1 application was determined.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In terms of a determination under section 4(2)(c) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, as amended, dated 29 July 1988, the Scottish legal aid board may make payments under specified conditions in cases where full civil legal aid is not made available.
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which date will be fixed by the Scottish legal aid board as the date of notification by a solicitor that the £60 limit has been exceeded, under the terms of the Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Prospective Cost (No. 3) Regulations, 1988.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The date of the solicitor's letter notifying the Scottish legal aid board that the £60 limit has been exceeded.
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance is given concerning any provisions there are for payment in full of legal aid to solicitors, under the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) and (No. 3) Regulations 1988, where work is undertaken in good faith for a client who was believed to be eligible for legal aid ; and from whom it was agreed to accept payment by instalments towards his estimated legal aid contribution, on which the client subsequently defaults after legal aid has been refused.
Column 663
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In a letter to the profession dated 5 August 1988, and in the winter 1988 edition of its quarterly journal The Recorder, the Scottish legal aid board has advised solicitors to make such arrangements with clients as will protect them against the possibility of a refusal by the client to pay, noting that this is ultimately a matter between solicitor and client.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to increase the number of management agreements negotiated to date in environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland and improve their attractiveness to farmers and crofter within environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has published explanatory leaflets and held public meetings in each of the designated areas in Scotland to publicise the scheme. Local officers of the Department and Scottish agricultural college advisory staff are available to provide information and advice to farmers or crofters in the designated areas.
Sports Medicine
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of health expenditure is devoted to sports medicine ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will state the number of consultants engaged in sports medicine and the health boards by whom they are employed.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to expand the practice of sports medicine within the National Health Service ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The provision of medical services for the treatment of injuries whether sporting or otherwise is for individual health boards.
Education Initiatives
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the main education initiatives which the Government have undertaken in Scotland since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : A list, with short descriptions, of the main initiatives undertaken in Scottish education since 1979 follows : 1. Standard Grade --Introduction to schools of new courses and examinations for age 14-16 that give every pupil credit for his or her achievements.
2. Action Plan --A new deal in education and training for age 16 , bringing pre-vocational and vocational training up to date and fitting it to the needs of employers and individuals.
3. Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI)--A national programme to provide within the school curriculum for the practical and applied skills and attitudes needed in employment in the years ahead.
4. Industry/Education Initiative --A national measure to increase links between schools and employers so that each has a better understanding of the others needs and requirements.
5. Curriculum and Assessment --A review of the primary and early secondary curriculum and of assessment
Column 664
procedures, to introduce better quality and greater consistency in the delivery of education, and make the good practice of some the standard for all.6. Modern Languages --Planned extension of competence in a modern European language to all pupils.
7. Special Educational Needs --More effective procedures to identify, record and make suitable provision for pupils with severe handicap. 1981 Act.
8. Pupils with Learning Difficulties --Development of better provision and support for those pupils.
9. Information Technology --Support for provision of computers in all schools.
10. Equipment for Science and Technology --Support for extension and modernisation of equipment in schools.
11. Research --Research projects to support all major Government initiatives.
12. Publication of Inspection Reports on Schools --Reports produced on all schools which have been subjected to a full inspection, for information to parents and exemplification of good practice. 13. Training for Teachers
13.1 All graduate entry to teaching announced in 1983. New degree course for primary teaching introduced in 1984 ; degrees for music and technology teaching in 1987.
13.2 Revised and extended postgraduate courses with more emphasis on school experience and the integration of theory and practice (primary-1986, secondary-1987).
13.3 Better delivery of in-service training by :
the introduction in 1984 of a specific grant to education authorities to encourage priority to nationally important topics ; indentification of priority areas through the creation of the Scottish Council for Staff Development in Education (SCOSDE) in 1987 ; and
an enabling clause in the self-Governing Schools Etc (Scotland) Bill currently before Parliament to introduce the appraisal of teachers' performance.
14. Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Service --Revision through agreement of teachers' pay and conditions of service in 1987, which made specific provision for
14.1 the appointment of a new grade of senior teacher ; 14.2 time away from the classroom for parents' evenings ; 14.3 time for in-service training and other forms of professional development (PAT).
15. Staff Development
15.1 A major management training programme for headteachers has been launched.
15.2 More training support is planned for probationer teachers. 15.3 Views have been invited on a voucher scheme to stimulate teachers' personal professional development.
16. Parental Choice --Introduction of a right for parents to choose their children's school. More than 13 per cent. of pupils at P1 stage are now the subject of a placing request, more than 10 per cent. of pupils at S1. More than 90 per cent. of placing requests are granted.
17. Parental Involvement in Schools --Establishment of School Boards in every local authority school in Scotland by October 1989 ; membership to include parents, teachers and co-opted members. This will give parents an effective voice in their children's education and in the management of schools.
18. Assisted Places Scheme --The Assisted Places Scheme, introduced in 1981, has widened the scope for exercise of choice by parents and the range of educational opportunity for children, by enabling parents of modest income to send their children to independent fee-paying schools if they so prefer. The Scheme assists 2,670 pupils, at 41 schools. From 1989-90 the Scheme will be extended to include pupils in the later stages of preparatory schools. The total number of pupils benefiting is expected to rise to about 3,000 by 1991-92. 19. Technology Academies --An initiative involving private sector sponsorship to extend the scope for choice, to widen the range and diversity of schools available and to raise standards and expectations of pupils, parents and teachers.
Column 665
20. Parent Involvement in Discipline -- Regulations made in 1982 require parents to be involved in decisions about disciplinary behaviour at a very early stage where exclusion from a school is in prospect. The closer involvement of parents with schools through School Boards will also encourage the partnership between home and school in maintaining good standards of behaviour.21. Abolition of Corporal Punishment --Since 1987 corporal punishment has been abolished as a sanction for pupils whose education is directly provided in whole or in part from public funds.
22. Playground Supervision --Some £4 million has been provided in the Revenue Support Grant settlement in 1989-90, to enable education authorities to provide for proper playground supervision at lunchtimes.
23. Educational Expenditure --Between 1979-80 and 1987-88 net current expenditure per pupil by local authorities on schools increased in real terms by 39 per cent. (now £1,587 per pupil compared with £1,143 in 1979-80 at 1987-88 prices).
Burrell Gallery
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the cost of building the Burrell gallery in Glasgow was met by the Government ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have today authorised the payment of £595, 662 in full and final settlement of the Government's grant contribution towards the cost of building the gallery. This will make the final total of Government grant £9,426,160. A total of £1,742,336 was contributed by the Burrell fund and the balance of just under 50 per cent. was met by Glasgow district council.
Investment Grants
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the will give the total number of applicants (a) received and (b) approved for investment grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988 ; what was the total amount of expenditure involved ; and what the total estimated expenditure planned for that period ;
(2) if he will give the total number of applicants (a) received and (b) approved for innovation grants, from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988 ; the total amount of expenditure involved and the total estimated expenditure involved and (c) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period.
Mr. Lang [pursuant to his reply, Thursday 16 March 1989] : The information requested is shown for the period 1 April to 31 December.
|c|Regional Enterprise grants|c|
|Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) |Investment grants
|Number of applications received|247
|Number of applications approved|125
|Value of applications approved |£772.7 thousand
(ii) |Innovation grants
|Number of applications received|66
|Number of applications approved|21
|Value of applications approved |£481.5 thousand
The present provision for regional enterprise grants, which covers both investment and innovation grants, for the financial year 1988-89 is £1.6 million.
Column 666
Development Corporation Houses
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses from development corporation stock have been sold in each of the new towns since vesting day, expressed as a percentage of the total stock.
Mr. Lang [pursuant to his reply of 23 January, 1989] : The information, as amended, is set out in the table.
|Total stock |Total sales |Percentage sales
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Kilbride<1> |22,585 |9,794 |43.4
Glenrothes<1> |12,095 |5,216 |43.13
Cumbernauld<1> |14,206 |6,857 |48.3
Livingston<2> |12,120 |2,780 |22.9
Irvine<1> |5,264 |1,016 |19.3
<1> As at 31 December 1988.
<2> As at 30 September 1988.
HEALTH
Pharmaceutical Imports
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the value of pharmaceutical imports from Greece in 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Alan Clark : I have been asked to reply.
Imports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products from Greece in 1987 and 1988 were £6.7 million and £11.8 million respectively.
Expenditure
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give the total national United Kingdom expenditure on health care provision, including both public and private sector provision, but excluding any double counting, in money terms, for the latest 10 financial years for which figures are available ; and whether this includes the voluntary sector ;
(2) if he will give the national United Kingdom expenditure on private sector health care provision in money terms, for the latest 10 financial years for which figures are available ; and whether this includes the voluntary sector.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 20 March 1989] : The following table shows annual United Kingdom public and private health care expenditure in the period 1979 to 1988. The figures are derived from the United Kingdom national accounts prepared by the Central Statistical Office and do not double-count expenditures. The voluntary sector is not separately identified in the national accounts.
|c|Expenditure on health care in the United Kingdom|c| £ billion Year |Net public expenditure|Private expenditure -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979 |8.7 |1.1 1980 |11.9 |1.3 1981 |13.7 |1.7 1982 |14.5 |2.0 1983 |16.3 |2.3 1984 |17.2 |2.5 1985 |18.4 |2.8 1986 |20.0 |3.0 1987 |22.0 |3.3 1988 |23.8 |3.8
Column 667
South Cumbria District Health Authority
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in revenue have been made in South Cumbria district health authority since 30 September 1982 in cash, real terms and percentages.
Mr. Freeman : I will write to my right hon. Friend.
Vehicle Exhaust Emissions
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health hazards presented by those exhaust emissions of vehicles which are capable of being reduced or eliminated by catalytic converters ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The effects of the relevant primary pollutants, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen, and of secondary pollutants, notably ozone formed by subsequent reactions in the air, have been considered in consultation with United Kingdom experts and through the World Health Organisation. Their assessment is that there is no evidence that current environmental concentrations in the United Kingdom arising from traffic sources present health hazards.
Social Workers (Training)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has plans for his Department to make a direct contribution to the improvement of the training of social workers dealing with mentally disordered people ;
(2) whether he has had discussions with local authority associations and directors of social services with a view to improving the training and supervision of social workers dealing with mentally disordered people.
Mr. Mellor : Social work training is essentially a matter for the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. We have had no discussions with the local authority associations or directors of social services about training for those social workers dealing with the mentally ill.
General Practice Finance Corporation Ltd.
Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the sale of the General Practice Finance Corporation Ltd.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : I am pleased to announce that I have accepted an offer of £145 million from Norwich Union Life Insurance Society for the acquisition of all the ordinary share capital of the General Practice Finance Corporation Ltd., and the repayment of the company's indebtedness to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. The transaction is being completed this morning.
Ambulance Services
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances from the London ambulance service were deployed at the Clapham rail crash ; how many St. John ambulance brigade vehicles were brought into use as a result ; and if any non-London ambulances were used in London on the day in question.
Mr. Freeman : The LAS deployed 35 ambulances, 11 large sitting case vehicles and three small sitting case
Column 668
vehicles. A further seven vehicles attended the scene from the LAS training school, as well as the emergency control vehicle. In addition, six ambulances from the Surrey ambulance service with support from its control unit and three vehicles from their training school attended. These were the only non-London ambulances used in London on that day. No St. John ambulances were used as a result of the incident.Sports Medicine
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of consultants engaged in sports medicine in England and Wales and the health authorities by which they are employed.
Mr. Mellor : Sports medicine as such is not a recognised medical speciality so no such figures are available.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of health expenditure in England and Wales is devoted to sports medicine ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he has any plans to expand the practice of sports medicine within the National Health Service in England and Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Treatment for injuries sustained as a result of sport are not separately costed. Some sports injuries will be treated by general practitioners, and others in accident and emergency departments or, for example, hospital orthopaedic departments. This is a matter for clinical judgment by the responsible doctor.
Waiting Lists
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each health district and health region in England and Wales the size of the waiting list on 30 September 1988, the percentage increase or decrease since 31 March 1988, and the national rank order of the district by size of waiting list.
Mr. Mellor : The information requested is in the Library. Information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Population Statistics
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the population of England and Wales in 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Freeman : The estimates of resident population for England and Wales at mid-1986 and mid-1987 are 50,075,000 and 50,243,000 respectively. An estimate for mid-1988 will be available shortly.
Electoral Registers
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales the number of electors on the register for each of 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Mr. Freeman : The figures requested for 1988-89 have been published in "Electroal Statistics, 1988" (Series EL no. 15), a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Similar figures for 1989-90 are still being assembled centrally : they will be published in "Electoral Statistics, 1989" (Series EL no. 16) at the end of May.
Column 669
Mental Hospitals
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental hospitals have been closed in the past year.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is routinely collected but not yet available for 1988. I will place a list in the Library in the near future.
Children (Secure Accommodation)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged under 16 years are detained in Her Majesty's prisons ; and when he expects to provide suitable secure accommodation.
Mr. Mellor : Provisional figures for 31 December 1988, the latest date for which information is available, show there were 24 untried males aged 15 remanded to prison department establishments. The provision of appropriate alternative facilities including secure accommodation is the statutory responsibility of local authorities. The Department has powers to make grant aid available to meet the capital cost of providing secure accommodation, and is always prepared to consider any application which might be made by local authorities to increase the stock of such facilities. Applications from a number of authorities are actively under consideration for the provision of new or extended secure facilities and approval has already been given to build two new secure units in Birmingham and Humberside, which will provide a further 16 secure places.
Hospital Trusts
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the arrangements for opting for trust status for hospitals will affect the status and appointment of hospital chaplains.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Hospital chaplains who transfer from health authority employment will retain their existing contracts and rights. For the future, NHS hospital trusts will be free to appoint chaplains on such conditions as they may determine.
General Practitioners (Contract)
Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when formal negotiations on the proposed new contract for general practitioners began ; how many meetings have taken place between the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association negotiators and his officials ; how many hours of negotiation have taken place ; how many departmental papers have been sent to the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association negotiators in the context of the negotiations : and how many papers have been received by his officials from the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association in response ;
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Formal negotiations on the proposed new contract for general practitioners began in March 1988. They followed on from the Green Paper "Primary Health Care--an agenda for discussion" published in 1986 and the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" published in 1987. Since March 1988 there have
Column 670
been 18 meetings between the general medical services committee negotiators and my officials and some 100 hours of negotiations. Thirty-three papers from my Department and five from the GMSC have been considered at negotiating meetings.Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times he has met the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association to discuss the proposed new contract for general practitioners.
| Next Section
| Home Page |