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in force since 1976 under the Offshore Installations (Operational Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1976. These requirements are to be supported by guidance notes which will be produced in 1990.Nuclear Accidents
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies have been made to test the effectiveness of comprehensive plans to ensure that experts with special knowledge of nuclear energy would be on the scene of an accident in adequate time to take preventive measures ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The operators of nuclear installations have on site at all times staff who are fully trained to take preventive action in the event of a nuclear emergency. The operators also have additional specialist staff who are always available on standby and would immediately go to the site. A deputy chief inspector of nuclear installations would also be appointed by the Government as a Government technical adviser to preside over the off-site centre. He would become the authoritative source of advice to the police, local authorities and central Government on the course of the accident and the need for countermeasures to protect the public. He would be assisted by experts with special knowledge including representatives from the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Radiological Protection Board and the operator. These arrangements are approved by the Health and
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Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and are regularly tested in exercises in order to ensure their effectiveness.Coal Mining
Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps the Government are taking to protect the indigenous coal mining industry ; and if he will make a statement on the special report from the committee on the Associated British Ports No. 2 Bill, HC 258.
Mr. Michael Spicer : It is not this Government's policy to restrict imports of coal. Restricting competition will not bring long-term security to the British coal industry. The best protection is to produce reliable supplies which are competitive on the world market. It is not for Government to make a formal response to the special report but for the House to take it into account on Third Reading.
Severn Barrage
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent report of the Severn barrage study group.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Copies of the report summarising the work of the Severn Tidal Power Group, published by HMSO in the Department of Energy paper series, were placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament on23 October.
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the privatisation of the electricity industry ; and if he will indicate when the flotation of the two Central Electricity Generating Board successor companies is to proceed.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Both generating companies will be brought to the market in the first half of 1991. The precise timings are still to be decided.
Electricity Boards (Appointments)
Mr. Michael Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many individuals have been appointed to electricity boards over the last two years ; and from what industries they came.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Since 1 October 1987, a total of 57 individuals have been appointed to electricity boards in England and Wales. They have a wide range of backgrounds.
Electricity Industry (Capacity Deficiency Scheme)
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the terms of the new capacity deficiency scheme proposed for the electricity industry.
Mr. Wakeham : The rules on which the new electricity market will operate will be published in good time before vesting of the restructured industry.
Nuclear Reactors
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans exist for fitting special filtered containment venting systems into the designs for the four
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pressurised-water reactors to be built by the Central Electricity Generating Board in England and Wales for the prevention of over-pressurising station containment buildings ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Michael Spicer : Consent has been granted for only one new nuclear power station : Sizewell B. The design and construction of this station is a matter for the CEGB. I have therefore asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will constitute a planning inquiry commission, as specified in sections 47- 49 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, to consider the possible construction of a nuclear power station at Wylfa.
Mr. Michael Spicer : As the Gwynedd county council and the Anglesey borough council have objected to the CEGB's applications for my right hon. Friend's consent to construct a PWR nuclear power station to be known as Wylfa B and to modify the transmission lines in the vicinity of the existing power station at Wylfa, he must now arrange for public inquiries to be held into the applications pursuant to section 34(1) of the Electricity Act 1957. My right hon. Friend will announce the arrangements for these inquiries in due course.
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates his Department has of the likely costs of decommissioning (a) AGR and (b) PWR nuclear power stations.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the present estimated cost of decommissioning each advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactor, indicating what cost is to be borne by National Power and what by the taxpayer ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wakeham : Decommissioning costs for AGRs and PWRs are matters for the CEGB or SSEB. The accounts of these bodies will include appropriate provisions for AGR decommissioning costs as presently estimated. The Government have taken powers, under schedule 12 to the Electricity Act 1989, to contribute towards decommissioning costs, and the way in which these powers will be used is under consideration.
Mr. Blair To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cost per kwh, or on another basis of appropriate calculations, to be charged by National Power for electricity generated by the Sizewell B power station under the contracts negotiated with the distributors.
Mr. Wakeham : The contract for electricity from Sizewell B is currently under negotiation.
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest calculation of his Department of the cost of electricity generated by Sizewell B.
Mr. Wakeham : This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I shall ask the chairman of the CEGB to write to the hon. Member.
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HEALTH
Coronary Heart Disease
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given by his Department to health authorities about the development of strategies for the prevention of coronary heart disease.
Mr. Freeman : Planning circulars from the Department of Health to the NHS have repeatedly emphasised the importance the Government attach to the prevention of disease and the promotion of health. Authorities have been asked to identify needs and develop programmes to meet them and to focus on specific programmes on diet, smoking and exercise. Such work is central to coronary heart disease prevention. Furthermore, the joint Department of Health and Health Education Authority "Look After Your Heart" campaign is intended to provide links between national and local initiatives for health authorities to build on and the regional review and operational planning processes have emphasised that authorities should be developing programmes for prevention in line with the national campaign. This year's planning guidelines refer to the intention to issue general guidance on health promotion and disease prevention during the planning year. This will include specific references to coronary heart disease prevention. I hope that my hon. Friend will also not forget the important role played by the voluntary sector in this area.
Hospital Beds
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give for each district health authority, regional health authority and special health authority the number of acute hospital beds and the total number of beds in each year since 1979 ; (2) if he will give for each district health authority, the percentage decrease or increase in acute hospital beds between 1982 and the latest available date ; and if he will rank the district health authorities according to the percentage change ;
(3) if he will give for each district health authority, the percentage decrease or increase in the total number of hospital beds between 1982 and the latest available date ; and if he will rank the district health authorities according to the percentage change ; (4) if he will give for each district health authority, the percentage increase or decrease in the number of deaths and discharges per annum between 1982 and the latest available year ; and if he will rank the district health authorities according to the percentage change ;
(5) if he will give for each district health authority, the total number of deaths and discharges in each year since 1979.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested has been placed in the Library and I have written to the hon. Member with a copy of such information.
Family Planning
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) National Health Service family planning clinics and (b) general practitioner health centres are designated as training centres for family planning in the United Kingdom for 1987 and 1988.
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Mr. Freeman : The following information is recorded by the joint committee on contraception which is concerned with family planning training for doctors and on which the Department of Health is one of several bodies represented. The figures refer to the number of approved premises for family planning training.
United Kingdom Totals at 30 September
|1987 |1988
--------------------------------------------------
Community and hospital clinics |1,065|1,092
General Practitioners' premises |32 |32
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment by contraceptive method (a) through National Health Service family planning clinics in England for the year 1987 and 1988 and (b) from general practitioners in England for the years 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Freeman : The available information is contained in the tables. Community and hospital clinic figures for 1988-89 are not yet available. A detailed analysis of contraceptive services provided by general medical practitioners is not held centrally.
Health authority family planning services-community and hospital clinics in England Number of patients by primary birth control method chosen or in use at first visit in the year: 1987-88 Method |Numbers (Thousands) ------------------------------------------------------------- Total |1,339.1 Oral contraceptives |677.1 IUD |168.9 Cap/Diaphragm |114.1 Sheath |208.7 Chemicals |9.6 Rhythm |0.3 Female sterilisation |2.1 Vasectomy |12.3 Other |21.0 None |125.0
End of year figures for contraceptive services
provided by general
medical practitioners in England
|1987 |1988
-------------------------------------------------------
Total number of patients |2,554,900|2,634,600
Fitting IUD |101,700 |91,200
Other than IUD |2,453,200|2,543,400
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of family planning clinics and family planning clinic sessions in each regional health authority in England for 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Freeman : Information is not available centrally in precisely the form requested. The number of premises in regular use for family planning sessions and the number of sessions, by regional health authority, are shown in the table. Figures for 1988-89 are not yet available.
Family Planning Clinic Services
Number of premises in regular use for family planning sessions
|Total premises |Number of sessions held
|1987-88 |1987-88
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England |1,754 |190,935
Northern |132 |10,667
Yorkshire |149 |11,952
Trent |129 |14,019
East Anglia |51 |5,428
North West Thames |145 |17,704
North East Thames |197 |21,962
South East Thames |129 |17,994
South West Thames |118 |15,154
Wessex |87 |10,511
Oxford |59 |8,357
South Western |113 |10,036
West Midlands |172 |21,135
Mersey |103 |9,857
North Western |170 |16,159
Infant Deaths
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Health for the latest year for which records exist and for each of the preceding three years, what was the number of infant deaths in the United Kingdom as a whole and the rate per 10,000.
Mr. Freeman : Infant mortality (deaths under one year), numbers and rates per 10,000 live births, in the United Kingdom, 1985-88, were
Year |Number of Deaths|Rate<1> -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1985 |7,030 |93.6 1986 |7,180 |95.1 1987 |7,077 |91.2 <2>1988 |7,061 |89.7 <1> Per 10,000 live births. <2> Provisional.
Abortion
Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review compliance with section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967.
Mr. Freeman : The Chief Medical Officer wrote on 11 October to remind health authorities in England about the national guidance issued in 1975 and 1979 about the appointment of hospital doctors to posts which involve termination of pregnancy or advice on termination. The Department will respond to any report of the Social Services Select Committee which is currently investigating this subject.
Medical Damage (Compensation)
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list representations which he has received concerning the introduction of mechanisms for the payment of no-fault compensation to victims of medical damage ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : A number of representations have been received. There are no plans to introduce any kind of no-fault compensation scheme. We consider that the basis for seeking compensation for injuries alleged to have been suffered as a result of medical negligence should continue to be through the courts, as recommended by the Pearson commission in 1978.
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Irradiated Casualties
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals where training has been introduced for medical or nursing personnel in dealing with irradiated or contaminated casualties ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Following is a list of hospitals which have been designated by the relevant regional health authority as being prepared to accept contaminated casualties and to advise on and assist with decontamination of personnel. The list is provisional and represents a preliminary compilation of responses to a health circular issued earlier this year giving guidance to the NHS on accidents involving radioactivity. I shall let the hon. Member have the definitive version as soon as possible.
Hospitals prepared to accept contaminated casualties and to advise on and assist with decontamination of personnel
Regional Health Authority and Hospital
East Anglia
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
The Ipswich Hospital
Mersey
Royal Liverpool Hospital
North East Thames
The Middlesex Hospital
North Middlesex Hospital
St. Bartholomew's Hospital
University College Hospital
Oldchurch Hospital
Essex County Hospital
Southend General Hospital
Royal Free Hospital
Colchester General Hospital
Northern
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Cumberland Infirmary
West Cumberland Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital
Freeman Hospital Unit
South Cleveland Hospital
North Tees District General Hospital
Sunderland District General Hospital
Dryburn Hospital
Darlington Memorial Hospital
North Western
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Christie Hospital
Hope Hospital
Royal Lancaster Infirmary
North West Thames
St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington
Mount Vernon Hospital
Westminster Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
Oxford
John Radcliffe Hospital
Northampton General Hospital
Royal Berkshire Hospital
South East Thames
Guy's Hospital
Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Royal Sussex County Hospital
South Western
Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
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Bristol Radiotherapy CentreGloucester Royal Hospital
Derriford District General Hospital
Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton
Plymouth General Hospital
Cheltenham General Hospital
City Hospital, Truro
South West Thames
Royal Surrey County Hospital
St. George's Hospital, London
Royal Marsden Hospital, London
Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton
Trent
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
Leicester Royal Infirmary
County Hospital, Lincoln
University Hospital, Nottingham
Wessex
Southampton General Hospital
Queen Alexandra Hospital,
General Hospital, Poole
West Midlands
The Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary
Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham
Yorkshire
The General Infirmary, Leeds
The Princess Royal Hospital, Hull
Bradford Royal Infirmary
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