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Marchioness Disaster
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has considered a public inquiry following the Marchioness disaster ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Under the new regulations governing the work of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, provision is made for investigations into serious marine accidents to take the form of an inspector's inquiry with a subsequent report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the chief inspector of marine accidents. This is considered to be the appropriate form of investigation for this accident.
It is expected that the inspector leading the inquiry will be in a position to submit his findings to the chief inspector very soon. The report of the chief inspector will then be published at the earliest practicable date.
British Rail
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much land is due to be sold off by British Rail in the next three years by region ; if he will list the estimated value of that land ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : These are commercial matters for the British Rail Property Board and I do not have the information in the forms requested. British Rail's published corporate plan 1989 contains the following forecasts for property-asset sales :
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Financial |£ million years ------------------------------ 1990-91 |293 1991-92 |248 1992-93 |261
Cyclists
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many local authorities have active cyclists' consultative committees ; if he will list them ; and if he will make a further statement.
Mr. Atkins : This information is not collected centrally. A number of local authorities are known to have developed good working relationships with local cycling groups.
Our latest local transport note on cycling "Making Way for Cyclists" (published by HMSO) contains several references to the benefits of good consultation with local cycling interests. A copy has been placed in the Library.
River and Port Pilots
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the river and port pilot manning requirements and costs in the United Kingdom and on the continent ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Pilot manning levels and costs in the United Kingdom are matters for the competent harbour authorities. I understand however that since the implementation of the Pilotage Act 1987 on 1 October 1988 pilotage charges have in general been held steady, with reductions being achieved in some cases. As regards manning, there were 1,225 licensed pilots immediately before the implementation of the 1987 Act and 229 pilots have since been made surplus.
The Department holds no up-to-date information regarding pilot manning levels or costs on the continent.
Household Refuse Tips
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidelines he has issued providing for the safe and harmless transport by lorry on public
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highways of rotting refuse from controlled household refuse tips of five to 20 years' vintage ; when they were last renewed ; and what proposals he has to revise them ;(2) what guidelines he has issued to local authorities on the transportation of putrescent household refuse of five to 20 years' vintage by lorry ; and what proposals he has to revise them.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 January, Official Report, Vol. 165, column 330.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to provide for the safe, odour-free and pollution- free transportation by rail of rotting refuse of five to 20 years' vintage from controlled household refuse tips ; and what proposals he has to revise them.
Mr. Atkins : There are no specific guidelines on the rail transport of putrescent waste. British Rail standards for the transport of dangerous goods generally reflect international requirements. Noxious goods which are not dangerous would be subject to British Rail's conditions of carriage and conditions of acceptance.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternatives to the Channel tunnel project's safety committee requirement for video surveillance in respect of last resort use of halons are currently under consideration ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : The Channel tunnel intergovernmental commission, in giving its decision that Eurotunnel may continue development of its transport system on the basis of the principle of non-segregation of passengers from cars and coaches, laid down a number of binding requirements.
One of these is that a video surveillance system should be provided to monitor the interior of the shuttle wagons. Another is that fire extinction measures in the shuttle trains should include a Halon 1301 system or other agent with the same extinguishing capabilities. Halon may only be used either when passengers have been evacuated or as a last resort when the lives of passengers are endangered in spite of the use of other means of extinction.
It is for Eurotunnel to consider how to give effect to these requirements when bringing forward for approval design proposals for further development of its system.
Mitchell Bypass
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what stage plans have reached to begin work on the Mitchell bypass on the A30 in Cornwall ;
(2) when he expects the A30 Mitchell bypass to be opened ; (3) when he intends the documentation regarding the building of the A30 Mitchell bypass in Cornwall to be issued to possible contractors.
Mr. Atkins : All the statutory procedures have been completed for the A30 Penhale-Carland Cross scheme which includes a bypass for Mitchell. Tender documents are in preparation and a contract is expected to be awarded later in the year. Construction should take about 18 months.
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Zelah Bypass
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the A30 Zelah bypass to be opened.
Mr. Atkins : A contract is expected to be awarded later in the year and construction should take about 12 months.
British Rail (Investment)
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy for new investment in British Rail to be judged on the basis of cost-benefit analysis.
Mr. Portillo : The new objectives for British Rail, announced by my right hon. Friend last month, allow for the use of cost-benefit analysis where exceptionally investment which increases the asset base of the Network SouthEast and provincial sectors cannot meet the required rate of return of 8 per cent. This will enable the Government to decide whether capital grants would be justified on wider social and economic grounds. For BR's commercial sectors the Government see no case for subsidy and financial appraisal continues to be appropriate.
Mr. Mark Woodward
Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will arrange for Mr. A. J. Woodward and his solicitor to have access to the tape recordings referred to by the solicitors acting for Her Majesty's Coastguard in the case of Mark Woodward in their letter of 12 January to Noel Horner, solicitor, of Truro.
Mr. McLoughlin : Yes. Arrangements are already in hand for Mr. Woodward and his solicitor to hear the tapes on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Cars (Carbon Dioxide Emissions)
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to control the level of carbon dioxide emissions from motor cars.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 7 December 1989. (Official Report, 7 December, column 347.)
WALES
Local Government Finance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Caenarfon of 8 January, Official Report, column 502, on local government finance in Wales, what allowance he has made, in calculating the income from the standard community charge for each district in Wales, for owners of holiday homes who previously paid domestic rates, changing to the uniform business rate for such properties, where they are let out for a proportion of each year.
Mr. Peter Walker : The assumptions I have made for standard charge multipliers for each district in Wales for 1990-91 are set out in paragraph 3 of the Welsh revenue support grant distribution report.
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Regulations will shortly be laid before the House defining the boundary between domestic and non-domestic property and bringing into non-domestic rating those individual units of self-catering accommodation which are available for letting for 140 or more days each year. On the basis of those regulations, account can be taken in future local government finance settlements of the non-domestic rate income collectable in respect of these properties. It will be pooled and distributed on a per capita basis to all Welsh districts.Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what percentage he based his inflation forecast in determining the Welsh local government expenditure settlement for the years 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Mr. Peter Walker : The local authority settlements for 1988-89 and 1989-90 represented the Government's view of what it would be appropriate for local government to spend. Like all public expenditure plans they were set in cash terms.
Batteries and Accumulators
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he has taken to promote the marketing of batteries and accumulators containing smaller quantities of dangerous substances or less- polluting substances ;
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the dangers of uncontrolled disposal of spent batteries and accumulators ;
(3) what steps he is taking to inform consumers of the method of moving batteries and accumulators which are built into appliances ; (4) what steps he is taking to set up a deposit system for batteries and accumulators ;
(5) what steps his Department has taken to reduce the heavy metal content in batteries and accumulators.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Consumer Affairs on Thursday 18 January 1990 at columns 356-58.
Farm Incomes
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now publish his assessment of the level of farm incomes in Wales for 1989 ; and what were the corresponding figures for 1988.
Mr. Peter Walker : Information on the level of farm incomes in Wales in 1989 is due to be published in June in the Welsh Office publication "Farm Incomes in Wales" No. 4, 1990. Some limited information, on average net incomes in Wales for the pair of years 1987-88 and 1988-89 will also be included in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publication "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" to be published early next month.
Bypass (A487)
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the target commencement date for construction of the Penygroes and Llanllyfni bypass scheme on the A487 trunk road in Gwynedd.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : Plans announced in "Roads in Wales : 1989" do not include a bypass for Penygroes and
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Llanllyfni. This section of the A487 is the subject of a feasibility study but it is too soon to speculate on its conclusions.Grant-aided Schools
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the independent or direct grant schools in Wales that are grant-aided directly by the Welsh Office, noting the amount of aid to be paid in the current financial year.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The only direct grant school in Wales, TS Indefatigable, Anglesey, will receive grant totalling £15,750 in the current financial year. Payments to meet the costs of tuition fee remissions at independent schools participating in the assisted places scheme are shown in the table :
School |Payment-
|1989-90
|(estimate)
|£
--------------------------------------------------
Howells School, Llandaff |338,380
Howells School, Denbigh |236,811
Christ College, Brecon |186,547
Rydal School, Colwyn Bay |128,121
Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay |163,726
Llandovery College, Dyfed |92,025
Monmouth School for Boys |320,596
Monmouth School for Girls |127,302
Rural Unemployment
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West of 30 November 1989, Official Report, column 339, whether he makes any general estimates on a regular basis of figures for rural unemployment.
Hospital Building
Mr. Hayward : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the five largest hospital building projects in Wales currently under construction ; and what is the projected cost of each.
Mr. Grist : The five largest hospital building projects currently under construction in Wales are shown in the table :
Project |Projected
|Cost
|£ million
-----------------------------------------------------------------
New Llanelli Hospital |26.9
Singleton Hospital West Ward Block |12.3
Royal Gwent Hospital Development Scheme 6 |10.7
North Rhondda Community Hospital |8.0
Prince Charles Hospital Development Scheme 2 |5.2
Mr. Hayward : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the five largest hospital building projects completed in Wales since 1979 ; and what is the cost of each.
Mr. Grist : The five largest hospital building projects completed in Wales since 1979 are shown in the table :
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Project |Cost
|£ million
------------------------------------------------------------
Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor |36.9
Princess of Wales hospital, Bridgend |25.5
Morriston hospital development scheme I |20.4
Wrexham Maelor DGH |17.4
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd |12.5
Housing (Ceredigion)
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate of the number of additional houses likely to be needed in Ceredigion over the next five years.
Mr. Grist : The statutory responsibility for assessing housing need in any particular area rests with the local authority concerned.
A487 Lower Fishguard
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve the trunk road A487 at Lower Fishguard, Pembrokeshire during the next five years ; and if he will make a statement in the light of the latest serious accident.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : A scheme for a relief road was considered but deferred because of local objections to its effect on the environment. It will be re-examined and discussed with local authorities.
Household Refuse Tips
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will lay down guidelines to local authorities on the planning, environmental health and waste disposal criteria for granting permission for tipping partly rotted household refuse removed from one controlled refuse tip to another.
Mr. Grist : Guidance on the disposal of household refuse is contained in the series of waste management papers published by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and in Welsh Office circulars 76/76 and 38/89. My right hon. Friend has no proposals to issue further guidance.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what licences he has issued for the tipping of transported partly rotted household refuse from controlled local authority tips of five to 20 years' vintage.
Mr. Grist : The responsibility for issuing waste disposal licences rests with district councils in Wales as waste disposal authorities.
Road Improvements
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which trunk road improvement schemes in Wales are expected to start in the financial year 1990-91.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : An announcement will be made in the Welsh Office commentary on the public expenditure White Paper due to be published in March.
Forestry
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales where in Wales the Forestry Commission proposes to sell off forests and woods giving the size in acres, the
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nature of the woodland and the estimated cost of the forests and woods in question ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Peter Walker [holding answer 16 January 1990] : The Forestry Commission's current disposals programme will extend over the next 10 years and the selection of properties for sale will accordingly be staged over that period. Advance notification of properties to be placed on the market is given in the Estates Gazette when firm decisions to sell are taken by the commission.
The following forest areas are at present being offered for sale on the open market. These areas are all predominantly coniferous.
County and Name |Area |Guide Price<1>
|(acres) |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dyfed
The Goginal Woodlands
Allt Goch |72 |135,000
The Ty Cerrig Woodlands
Ty Cerrig Wood |114 |95,000
Bylchau-Duon |153 |125,000
Talley Woodlands
Allt y Goitre |71 |85,000
Maestwynog |28 |23,000
Tanyrallt |16 |11,500
Powys
Three Woodlands
New Pieces and Old Wood |11 |8,000
Cae Mawr Coppice |12 |16,000
The Linger and Maes-y-Mwm |11 |10,000
Dyfed
Synod Inn Woodlands
Ffynnon Le Frith |62 |60,000
Hafod Iwan |80 |73,000
Croes Heddyg Newydd |34 |35,000
Penrhiwgaled |12 |12,500
Cnwc yr Ehedydd |5 |7,000
Esgair Onen |8 |10,000
West Glamorgan
Craig Ynysgollen |24 |20,000
Dyfed
Carmarthen Woods
Allt Werncorgam |28 |25,000
College Wood |30 |25,000
<1>The guide price is the figure given by the agents to interested
parties.
HEALTH
National Health Service Spending
Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing, for the years 1987-88 and 1988-89 (estimated), the average cost per head of spending in the National Health Service by health authorities, broken down into groups as follows : births, ages up to four years, five to 15 years, 16 to 64 years, 65 to 74 years and 75 plus years.
Mr. Freeman : District-based figures of average total revenue expenditure per head of resident population for 1987-88 and 1988-89 are shown in the table. (The figures for 1988-89 are provisional in that they are as yet subject to audit.)
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Although the greatest use of health care facilities tends to be the very young and the elderly it is not practicable centrally specifically to assign district health authorities' total expenditure to particular age groups.
Total revenue expenditure per resident
|1988-89|1987-88
|(cash) |(cash)
|£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Region
Hartlepool |266 |233
North Tees |194 |181
South Tees |285 |253
East Cumbria |252 |229
South Cumbria |185 |169
West Cumbria |215 |195
Darlington |278 |253
Durham |162 |149
North West Durham |244 |215
South West Durham |250 |223
Northumberland |243 |220
Gateshead |183 |168
Newcastle upon Tyne |575 |514
North Tyneside |152 |134
South Tyneside |178 |161
Sunderland |248 |223
Districts Total |254 |229
Yorkshire Region
Hull |265 |236
East Yorkshire |223 |212
Grimsby |227 |207
Scunthorpe |171 |151
Northallerton |145 |139
York |242 |225
Scarborough |185 |167
Harrogate |230 |211
Bradford |237 |214
Airedale |209 |191
Calderdale |208 |187
Huddersfield |248 |224
Dewsbury |181 |162
Leeds Western |301 |275
Leeds Eastern |301 |263
Wakefield |368 |339
Pontefract |187 |172
Districts Total |240 |218
Trent Region
North Derbyshire |163 |143
Southern Derbyshire |216 |201
Leicestershire |221 |196
North Lincolnshire |247 |228
South Lincolnshire |190 |172
Bassetlaw |184 |167
Central Nottinghamshire |216 |196
Nottingham |282 |254
Barnsley |199 |178
Doncaster |215 |191
Rotherham |188 |170
Sheffield |357 |322
Districts Total |234 |212
East Anglian Region
Cambridge |313 |282
Peterborough |240 |202
West Suffolk |197 |177
East Suffolk |226 |206
Norwich |243 |219
Great Yarmouth and Waveney |202 |184
West Norfolk and Wisbech |186 |166
Huntingdon |219 |189
Districts Total |233 |209
North-West Thames Region
North Bedfordshire |173 |159
South Bedfordshire |186 |171
North Hertfordshire |173 |149
East Hertfordshire |135 |118
North-West Hertfordshire |320 |283
South-West Hertfordshire |146 |126
Barnet |299 |263
Harrow |246 |218
Hillingdon |321 |282
Hounslow and Spelthorne |243 |211
Ealing |179 |158
Riverside |601 |514
Parkside |394 |341
Districts Total |269 |236
North-East Thames Region
Basildon and Thurrock |210 |185
Mid-Essex |219 |199
North-East Essex |220 |202
West Essex |200 |175
Southend |180 |161
Barking/Havering/Brentwood |207 |188
Hampstead |688 |592
Bloomsbury |1,226 |1,076
Islington |372 |334
City and Hackney |543 |483
Newham |253 |227
Tower Hamlets |542 |485
Enfield |187 |166
Haringey |293 |270
Redbridge |219 |193
Waltham Forest |328 |288
Districts Total |307 |273
South-East Thames Region
Brighton |240 |218
Eastbourne |221 |203
Hastings |217 |202
South-East Kent |175 |158
Canterbury and Thanet |234 |217
Dartford and Gravesham |246 |229
Maidstone |226 |208
Medway |185 |164
Tunbridge Wells |283 |260
Bexley |212 |190
Greenwich |342 |300
Bromley |233 |205
West Lambeth |640 |568
Camberwell |438 |374
Lewisham and North Southwark |437 |386
Districts Total |279 |251
South-West Thames Region
North-West Surrey |235 |217
West Surrey and North East Hampshire |151 |134
South-West Surrey |305 |271
Mid Surrey |305 |276
East Surrey |318 |288
Chichester |216 |199
Mid Downs |201 |179
Worthing |182 |162
Croydon |237 |209
Kingston and Esher |283 |258
Richmond, Twickenham, Roehampton |195 |176
Wandsworth |620 |543
Merton and Sutton |256 |227
Districts Total |259 |231
Wessex Region
East Dorset |206 |183
West Dorset |216 |199
Portsmouth and South East
Hampshire |194 |172
Southampton and South West
Hampshire |290 |262
Winchester |223 |198
Basingstoke and North
Hampshire |217 |199
Salisbury |312 |278
Swindon |225 |201
Bath |207 |190
Isle of Wight |229 |207
Districts Total |226 |203
Oxford Region
East Berkshire |189 |171
West Berkshire |195 |173
Aylesbury Vale |349 |315
Wycombe |143 |126
Milton Keynes |161 |143
Kettering |165 |148
Northampton |222 |205
Oxfordshire |255 |229
Districts Total |209 |187
South Western Region
Bristol and Weston |310 |279
Frenchay |282 |255
Southmead |246 |221
Cornwall/Isles of Scilly |195 |181
Exeter |280 |254
North Devon |218 |199
Plymouth |268 |241
Torbay |210 |190
Cheltenham |186 |165
Gloucester |224 |208
Somerset |210 |192
Districts Total |240 |218
West Midlands Region
Bromsgrove and Redditch |188 |177
Herefordshire |203 |192
Kidderminster |293 |273
Worcester |211 |195
Shropshire |201 |185
Mid Staffordshire |171 |153
North Staffordshire |244 |223
South-East Staffordshire |196 |178
Rugby |170 |160
North Warwickshire |239 |213
South Warwickshire |236 |215
Central Birmingham |580 |521
East Birmingham |232 |211
North Birmingham |245 |223
South Birmingham |323 |283
West Birmingham |355 |322
Coventry |247 |220
Dudley |210 |190
Sandwell |153 |136
Solihull |170 |155
Walsall |196 |174
Wolverhampton |250 |228
Districts Total |236 |214
Mersey Region
Chester |300 |283
Crewe |185 |171
Halton |142 |128
Macclesfield |226 |208
Warrington |287 |265
Liverpool |365 |325
St. Helens and Knowsley |197 |182
Southport and Formby |268 |234
South Sefton |416 |321
Wirral |217 |196
Districts Total |265 |237
North Western Region
Lancaster |385 |353
Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde |206 |186
Preston |616 |582
Blackburn, Hyndburn and
Ribble Valley |200 |181
Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale |327 |300
West Lancashire |252 |228
Chorley and South Ribble |88 |79
Bolton |201 |181
Bury |173 |152
North Manchester |499 |434
Central Manchester |633 |562
South Manchester |571 |518
Oldham |189 |165
Rochdale |160 |143
Salford |400 |363
Stockport |194 |176
Tameside and Glossop |172 |148
Trafford |162 |146
Wigan |191 |172
Districts Total |267 |241
Sources:
(a) 1987-88 and 1988-89 annual accounts of district health
authorities.
(b) Mid-year estimates of resident population-1987 and 1988
respectively (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).
Notes:
1. District capital expenditure and all expenditure incurred
by regional health authorities on behalf of their regions as
a whole is excluded.
2. Expenditure on family practitioner services is excluded:
such expenditure is accounted for by family practitioner
committees (FPCs) and cannot strictly be attributed to
particular districts.
3. Significant variations in per capita expenditure figures
at district level arise principally because:
(i) people travel across district boundaries for treatment
and sub-regional resource allocations reflect the pattern of
service provision locally;
(ii) the population figures used make no allowance for
people resident in one district who receive treatment in
another or for the difference in morbidity and age/sex
structure of particular populations.
Expenditure, North-West
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage of capital spending as a proportion of total spending by regional health authorities in the north-west ; and what was the comparable figure 10 years ago.
Mr. Freeman : Information for the Mersey and North Western regions together with aggregated figures for all regions in England is shown in the table.
Capital expenditure figures for individual regions fluctuate from year to year mainly reflecting changes in the pattern of capital investment throughout the country.
Hospital and community health services (HCHS) capital expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure <1> Based on provisional expenditure figures (as yet subject to audit). Notes: 1. The figures, derived from annual accounts, include expenditure incurred by regional health authorities and the district (formerly area) health authorities comprising those regions. 2. HCHS includes hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services. 3. The table excludes expenditure on family practitioner services.
Hospital and community health sevices (HCHS) capital
expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure
|1978-79 |1988-89<1>
|Per cent. |Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------
Mersey Region |9.8 |6.1
North Western Region |9.1 |6.5
All regions |7.7 |7.9
<1> Based on provisional expenditure figures (as yet
subject to audit).
Notes:
<1> The figures, derived from annual accounts,
include expenditure incurred by regional health
authorities and the district (formerly area) health
authorities comprising these regions.
<2> HCHS includes hospital, community health, patient
transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other
services.
<3> The table excludes expenditure on family
practitioner services.
Over-Prescribing
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sanctions are available currently against general practitioners who, after professional assessment, are considered to be over-prescribing ; what changes will be introduced under the new general practitioners contract ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : At present, action can be taken under regulation 16 of the NHS (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1974 against general practitioners who are considered to be prescribing excessively. Regulation 16 provides for the Secretary of State to refer cases to local medical committees (LMCs) for investigation. LMCs may recommend a withholding of remuneration against GPs who prescribe excessively. There have been no referrals under regulation 16 since 1974. The Department is currently discussing with representatives of the medical profession, in the light of the Government's plans to introduce indicative prescribing budgets, how the existing sanctions process should be modified to provide a more effective procedure. GPs who exceed their indicative prescribing budget will not face sanctions on that fact alone. Only where there is clear evidence of excessive prescribing will the FPC refer the matter for consideration by a professional committee. We expect that the application of sanctions will be a process of last resort.
Health Authority Budgets
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory powers regional health authorities have to ensure that district health authorities do not exceed their budgets ; and whether it is his intention to extend this power to FPSA spending as well.
Mr. Freeman : Under section 97 of the National Health Service Act 1977, as amended, it is the duty of each regional health authority to allocate money to its districts and under section 97A each district health authority has a duty to ensure that its expenditure does not exceed its allocation.
The Secretary of State makes allocations to family practitioner committees for their administrative expenditure and, from 1 April 1990, will make allocations for cash-limited expenditure on direct reimbursement of part of general medical practitioners' practice expenses. The National Health Service and Community Care Bill presently before Parliament contains provisions to transfer this task to regional health authorities. As with district health authorities, it is the duty of each family practitioner committee to ensure that its expenditure does not exceed the amount allocated.
East Cleveland Hospital
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects work to begin on the new hospital in east Cleveland.
Mr. Freeman : No firm decisions have been taken yet about the timing, size and content of the new development. My hon. Friend may care to contact the chairman of the Northern regional health authority if he would like more information.
Column 456
Paramedics
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified paramedics are employed by Durham area health authority ; how many are in training ; and what is the total number of paramedics to be trained.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We do not hold information centrally about paramedics. The hon. Member may care to contact the chairman of the Durham health authority for the information.
NHS
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to rebut allegations that he has plans to privatise aspects of the National Health Service ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The White Paper "Working for Patients" clearly states that the Government have no plans to privatise the National Health Service. We support a Health Service which is open to all, regardless of income, and financed mainly from general taxation. The aim of all our reforms is to raise the performance of all parts of the NHS nearer to that of the best.
Vaccination Leaflet
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke of 21 December 1989, Official Report, column 379, he will place in the Library the research which indicated that the original version of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination leaflet ID19 ISBN1 85448 050 2 had limited appeal.
Mr. Freeman : The assessment of the MMR leaflet ID19 is still in draft format. A copy of the final report will be placed in the Library on its completion.
Tuberculosis Vaccinations
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of stocks of tuberculosis vaccinations held nationally.
Mr. Freeman : Temporary supply difficulties arose last year whilst our source of supply moved production facilities to a new site. This necessitated conserving remaining stocks by restricting vaccination to those at particular risk of exposure to tuberculosis. Adequate stocks remain for that purpose and I am glad to say that fresh supplies should be available by April 1990 to enable routine school vaccination to recommence later this year.
National Fitness Survey
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any proposals to back up current epidemiological studies, known as the national fitness survey, to allow calibration of the survey tools, such as more accurate energy cost estimates ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Some calibration of the survey tools is built into the national fitness survey proposals : for example repeatability studies will help to indentify errors associated with the physical tests. On the specified point
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about energy cost estimates, estimates are already published which will be applied to the survey data collected, and while some of these figures are in need of revision they will nevertheless enable reasonable estimates to be made. Producing more accurate energy cost estimates would require small intensive studies which could be undertaken at any time, the results of which could be applied retrospectively to the national fitness survey data. The Department has no plans at the moment to commission such work, but the national fitness survey team hopes that the survey itself will inspire such studies.Column 458
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the level of industrial and commercial sponsorship of the national fitness survey ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The national fitness survey is being financed jointly by the Department of Health, the Health Education Authority and the Sports Council. Negotiations are continuing with potential commercial sponsors in order to extend the size of the survey to provide accurate analyses of data to regional level.
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