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Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those who represented the United Kingdom at the Council of Europe's first symposium on bioethics held in Strasbourg in December 1989 ; and if he will place in the Library papers presented and records of the proceedings.
Mr. Freeman : There were no formal representatives of the UK. However, Dr. Jeremy Metters, deputy chief medical officer, Department of Health, attended as chairman of CAHBI. There were in addition a number of independent participants from the United Kingdom at the symposium.
Papers and records of the proceedings have not yet been published by the Council of Europe. As soon as they become available they will be placed in the Library.
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the procedures for appointment by member states of the Council of Europe of members of the CAHBI committee.
Mr. Freeman : Members are appointed by the member states of the Council of Europe.
Council of Europe
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been Her Majesty's Government's response to Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1100 ; and whether it has passed through the Council of Europe's internal consultative machinery.
Mr. Freeman : Her Majesty's Government have not yet been asked to respond to Recommendation 1100 of the Parliamentary Assembly which is still being considered within the Council of Europe's internal consultative machinery.
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Medico-ethics
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any proposals have been submitted by the European Commission on harmonisation of medico-ethical questions following the Ulburghs report adopted by the European Parliament Document A2-78/88.
Mr. Freeman : The European Commission has not made any proposals on harmonisation of medico-ethical questions following the Ulburghs report.
Meningitis
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis have been diagnosed in (a) under 18's and (b) over 18's in each of the last five years for which figures are available in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Norfolk, (iii) Essex, (iv) England and (v) the United Kingdom.
Mr. Freeman : Information is not available in the form requested. However, the available information on meningitis notifications is set out in the table.
Northern Ireland (Information is not centrally collected by age groups) Year |All ages --------------------------- 1984 |182 1985 |149 1986 |162 1987 |102 1988 |<1>154 <1> Provisional. Source: OPCS.
Northern Ireland (Information is not centrally collected by age groups) Year |All ages --------------------------- 1984 |182 1985 |149 1986 |162 1987 |102 1988 |<1>154 <1> Provisional. Source: OPCS.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the notification and action procedure for all doctors in a health authority area once a case of meningitis has been diagnosed.
Mr. Freeman : By regulations made under section 13 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, doctors
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are obliged to notify cases of meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia to the Medical Officer for Environmental Health or proper officer. The Chief Medical Officer wrote to all regional medical officers on 2 February 1988 asking them to ensure that they had action plans to deal with meningitis (PL/CMO (88)1). He also wrote to all doctors on 3 February 1988 to pass on expert advice on the epidemiology, early management and prevention of the spread of meningococcal infection. A copy of the Gloucester health authority leaflet on meningitis was enclosed with the letter (PL/CMO (88)2).Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice to parents his Department issues about meningitis (a) in general and (b) once a case has been confirmed.
Mr. Freeman : It is for health authorities to determine their own policy on issuing parents with advice about meningitis.
The Department recommends Gloucester health authority's "About Meningitis" leaflet and the Meningitis Trust's "Meningitis--the Facts". Both leaflets contain useful and clearly written information on meningitis and include a list of signs and symptoms of the disease. The Department values the work the Meningitis Trust does in promoting awareness of the disease, and the support it gives to sufferers' families.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department will take to curtail a suspected outbreak of meningitis in Suffolk and Essex.
Mr. Freeman : This is a matter for the local directors of public health who are taking action in accordance with guidance issued by the Department's Chief Medical Officer.
Air Ambulance
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the total monthly running costs for the Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Mr. Freeman : This information is not held centrally. I understand that the running costs for air ambulance vary from month to month. The total annual cost is reported to be around £350,000.
Cerebral Palsy
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned to investigate the causes of cerebral palsy.
Mr. Freeman : The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council. However, the following research, funded by Department of Health, includes investigation of causes into cerebral palsy together with other impairments.
The Oxford region child development study was funded by the Department between April 1983 and September 1989. It is a population-based register of pre-school impairment, including cerebral palsy. Data collected in this study established the prevalence rate of cerebral palsy and the register provides a framework for satellite studies which may look at causes of cerebral palsy. This register is currently funded by Oxford region health authority.
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The Department has been funding the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford, which coordinates clinical trials as part of its functions, since 1989. Children who as babies participated in some trials have been followed up, enabling study of the causes of cerebral palsy.A study at University College London (jointly funded by DH and MRC) is focusing on neurodevelopmental disorders in very small babies. A study in Liverpool is looking at the long-term outcome in small babies.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor trends in cerebral palsy.
Mr. Freeman : The Department does not monitor trends in cerebral palsy on a national basis. However, we observe the results of local population based studies of such trends. Whether or not we need to monitor more closely is being considered in the larger context of the development of child health surveillance policies.
Ambulance Dispute
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which health authorities have (a) the Army, (b) the police, (c) the Red Cross and (d) St. John Ambulances been deployed on ambulance duties.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 8 January 1990] : (a) On 15 January 1990 military vehicles were deployed in the following regional health authorities.
Trent RHA
North West Thames RHA
West Midlands RHA
Wessex RHA
North East Thames RHA
South West Thames RHA (including London)
Oxford RHA
(b) The police are assisting the ambulance services in the above authorities, and also in :
Northern RHA
Mersey RHA
Yorkshire RHA
South East Thames RHA
(c) Information on the assistance provided to health authorities by the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance service is not held centrally.
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date (a) the Army and (b) the police began performing ambulance duties.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 8 January 1990] : The Army began ambulance duties on 7 December 1989 and the police on 23 October 1989.
DEFENCE
Laser Weapons
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations his Department has carried out, or is aware of, into the effects of laser or other dazzle light on the eyes and brain functions of human beings ; and what are the results of such investigations.
Mr. Neubert : MOD research establishments have studied the effects of lasers and other high power light sources on human eyes. This research is continuing, with particular reference to quantifying the impact of such sources, and to devising techniques to counter these effects.
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Faslane
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident in early December when a Royal Navy vessel was damaged and had to return to Faslane ; and whether any inquiry has been instigated.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No Royal Navy vessel returned to Faslane due to damage during December.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans to insert a magnetic facility in the middle of the loch at Faslane ; for how long this facility would be in use per annum ; and what restrictions will apply to those who live on boats or sail yachts on the loch.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In order to remove the magnetic signature, which is acquired by all steel-hulled vessels, submarines are required to undergo periodic treatments. While existing arrangements meet the present requirement, these will be incapable of treating the larger Vanguard class of submarine. A new magnetic treatment facility is, therefore, required and this will be permanently located at a position in the Gareloch some 305 metres off Rowmore Point which meets the operational requirement and is sufficiently far away from other constructions with a steel content.
Following completion, which is planned for the end of 1992, up to 30 treatments per year are expected to be necessary with each treatment likely to last up to two days. It will be necessary to establish an exclusion zone around the facility of 160m to the west and north. To the east, the exclusion zone will join the existing prohibited zone around the Faslane base. The resulting proposed amendment to the Ministry of Defence byelaws will be the subject of consultation and advertisement in the normal way. Outside the prohibited zone, it is not expected that there will be any restrictions on those who live on boats or sail yachts on the loch ; a residual channel will allow navigation to and from Garelochhead.
Gareloch
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans, and for what purpose, his Department has to dredge a channel at the mouth of Gareloch ; and what effect this will have upon Rhuspit site of special scientific interest.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Work has started on improving the existing access channel to the Clyde submarine base Faslane through the Rhu Narrows. The work is necessary in order to permit safe transit in all tidal states by the larger Vanguard class submarines being introduced as part of the Trident programme. The dredging will have no detrimental affect on the nearby site of special scientific interest.
Soviet Nuclear Test Site
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received any invitation from his counterpart in the Soviet Union to visit the Soviet nuclear test site at Semipalatinsk.
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Flora and Fauna
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the project to film a major wildlife documentary series on the fauna and flora of the defence estate.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence takes its responsibilities towards the conservation of its estate very seriously. The diversity of habitats means that many rare and uncommon species are to be found on defence land and a number of wildlife documentary programmes have either already been made, or are in the process of production. It is hoped, in due course, to complement these individual programmes with a major series.
Property Services Agency
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the £9 million increase in his Department's budget relating to the costs of privatisation of the Property Services Agency ; and if he will give details.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The £9,182,000 increase in the Ministry of Defence's cash limit for 1989-90 to which the hon. Member refers is not connected with the decision to privatise the Property Services Agency announced on 26 October 1989. It is the share borne on Class 1, Vote 4 of additional expenditure arising from the reorganisation of the PSA on more commercial lines in preparation for Government Departments being untied for works services from 1 April 1990. The principal areas of expenditure covered information technology support, the setting up of the Business Development Directorate and the taking over of some functions of the Crown Suppliers such as the Government car service.
Tynedale Hunt
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is to be taken following an entry by the Tynedale hunt through Albermarle barracks, Stamfordham, on 1 January.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : None. The Tynedale hunt has a licence to hunt in this area.
Trooper Wayne Cross
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will exercise clemency to give early release to Trooper Wayne Cross, found guilty of being absent without leave at a court martial at Tidworth barracks on 16 January.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Trooper Wayne Cross presented a petition to the confirming officers against the sentence of the court-martial court. His case is therefore under consideration by the appropriate military authorities.
Absences Without Leave
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average term of imprisonment imposed on service men found guilty of being absent without leave over the last five years.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There have been no cases in recent years of a court-martial awarding imprisonment for
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absence without leave. The usual punishment is military detention, which is a form of corrective training, with or without dismissal from Her Majesty's service.Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rights of appeal there are for service men found guilty of being absent without leave.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A soldier found guilty of absence without leave may present a petition against finding and/or sentence to the confirming officer before confirmation. After confirmation, he has the further right to present a petition to the reviewing authority in respect of finding or sentence or both. Finally, he has the right to petition against finding to the Army Board of the Defence Council as a first step to having his case heard by the courts-martial appeal court. A soldier who is convicted by court-martial is required by Queens Regulations to be given a pamphlet explaining his rights of petition and appeal. Comparable appeal arrangements exist for the other two services.
Ships (Nuclear Weapons)
Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications of the recent experiment on the Black sea, in which short-range passive methods were used to supplement long- range detectors to verify the presence of nuclear weapons on board surface ships for the policy by successive United Kingdom Governments neither to confirm or deny the presence of such weapons on board United Kingdom vessels.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no implications for our policy neither to confirm nor to deny the presence of nuclear weapons in particular ships at particular times.
Namibia
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received any request from the new Government of Namibia to provide training for Namibia's armed forces.
Mr. Waldegrave : I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) on 10 January at column 939 .
Military Training
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are issued to those participating in mud runs in relation to heat stress.
Mr. Archie Hamilton [holding answer 15 January 1990] : All participants in diver training will have been instructed on the recognition and first aid treatment of heat-related illness, and other preventive measures include regular reminders to instructors of the problems associated with heat exhaustion and heat stroke ; a minimum interval of two hours between normal physical training and training across mud ; the participants' being bareheaded as an aid to body cooling ; and the provision of a standby vehicle in case urgent medical evacuation should be necessary.
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Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations have been received calling for the cessation of mud runs ; and what advice he has received regarding their value and purpose ;(2) whether mud runs are being used in (a) aptitude tests and (b) training in the armed forces.
Mr. Archie Hamilton [holding answer 15 January 1990] : There may be a requirement, in operations, for divers in the Royal Navy and the Army to cross mud at speed or carrying heavy equipment, and their training necessarily reflects this. Moreover, this form of training is valuable in developing the qualities required generally of military divers, whose work is arduous and potentially dangerous. However, mud runs are no longer used during aptitude tests. I am not aware of any representations calling for the cessation of mud runs having been received in 1989, but one letter on this subject has been received from an hon. Member this year.
Procurement
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's major procurement purchases which have followed competitive tendering in each year since 1984.
Mr. Alan Clark [pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1990, c. 136] : The following further information is now available :
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1989 AS90' Self Propelled Howitzer.AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken by the EEC to fulfil its general agreement on tariffs and trade commitment to participate in substantial progressive reductions in agricultural support and protection.
Mr. Curry : The Community, in common with other GATT members, has tabled proposals for reform of agricultural policies. Negotiations in the GATT round are continuing.
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the trend in common agricultural policy support prices, expressed in national currencies, for cereals and dairy products in each member state over the past three years.
Mr. Curry : The buying-in prices for common wheat and the intervention prices for butter over the last three years are given in the table. Prices are in national currencies per tonne, applicable at the start of each marketing year. No figures are supplied for Portugal, since cereals and dairy products are not supplied to intervention in that country.
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Common wheat Butter
|1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom £ |110.67 |110.67 |114.75 |2,084.52 |2,084.52 |2,125.83
Belgium/Luxembourg BF |8,107.43 |8,107.43 |7,900.53 |150,482.26 |150,482.26 |145,246.99
Denmark DK |1,476.73 |1,476.73 |1,461.10 |27,420.56 |27,420.56 |26,861.65
Germany DM |404.46 |400.36 |388.36 |7,549.59 |7,472.60 |7,070.39
France FF |1,260.98 |1,260.98 |1,259.49 |23,414.42 |23,414.42 |23,155.19
Greece Dr |22,631.60 |22,631.60 |31,250.40 |470,661.30 |470,661.30 |496,307.96
Ireland Irish £ |140.22 |140.22 |133.60 |2,606.19 |2,606.19 |2,577.14
Italy Lir |269,371.73 |269,371.73 |273,730.23 |5,051,916.00|5,051,916.00|5,059,456.00
Netherlands Fl |453.39 |448.82 |435.36 |8,463.60 |8,333.90 |7,934.65
Spain Pta |26,011.66 |26,011.66 |25,231.77 |487,921.75 |487,921.75 |468,604.28
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the EEC proposal in the current general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations that an agricultural price freeze is sufficient to meet its short-term commitment to reduce agricultural support and protection levels in 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The United Kingdom expects reforms in the CAP which have been agreed in recent years to result in aggregate levels of support in 1990 consistent with the Community's short-term GATT obligations.
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the EEC uses the producer subsidy equivalent for the purpose of calculating total agricultural support ; and why its outline proposals for agricultural reform tabled in the general agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay round, measure reductions against a 1986 starting level.
Mr. Curry : The European Commission uses an aggregate measure of support known as the support measurement unit which is based on the OECD's producer
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subsidy equivalent. A 1986 starting level reflects agreement that credit is to be given for measures taken since the current GATT round was launched.Fish Disease
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of (a) dab, (b) flounder, (c) cod, (d) herring and (e) plaice caught in water around the United Kingdom showed evidence of disease for each of the ad hoc surveys conducted since 1980 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, together with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.
Mr. Curry : Since 1980, the Department's surveys for fish diseases in water around the United Kingdom have shown wide differences in prevalence between fish species. For dab and flounder, external diseases are recorded at higher prevalence rates than in cod, herring or any other species.
The prevalence rates of disease vary not only between species but in relation to abundance, size, sex, spawning state and food availability. For dab and flounder, up to 10
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per cent. prevalence would be expected in some areas, and then fluctuations would be expected according to the season. For cod, diseases are noted only when the migrations occur inshore during the autumn. At this time approximately 10 per cent. has been recorded, but this figure varies between years. Diseases in herring are rare, that is, less than 1 per cent. in all our surveys.Monitoring prevalence of disease in marine fish is only useful when it is made over an extended time period, and when all biological and physical parameters have been taken into account. We know that all current diseases in the above species have been documented since the turn of the century.
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