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Prosecutions
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the 113 successful prosecutions completed since 1 January 1979 were commenced by his Department as opposed to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Serious Fraud Squad or the police before that date.
Mr. Redwood : For the period preceding January 1986, the information requested cannot be produced without exceeding the limit imposed on costs. However from January 1986, 23 prosecutions were carried out by my Department.
1992
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has completed his consideration of the European Economic Community-university of Louvain study of the impact of 1992 on regions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : We have studied the report. Many of its conclusions are in line with our own priorities of encouraging business development and enterprise throughout the country and ensuring effective targeting of training, infrastructure and R and D facilities in the run-up to 1992.
Shipbuilding
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals for changes in the European Commission's sixth directive on aid to the shipbuilding industry.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : In line with the decision of the European Commission, which was notified to member states on 18 January, I have decided to reduce the maximum level of support for merchant ships from 26 per cent. to 20 per cent. with effect from 1 January 1990. I have also decided that, from the same date, the sliding scale for ships costing less than £10 million will be reduced from a maximum of 20 per cent. to a maximum of 15 per cent. This will fall by half of one percentage point for every £1 million reduction in the cost of build below £10 million. This when combined with shipbuilder's relief, will bring support for ships costing less than 6 million ecu below the upper level of 14 per cent. set by the Commission.C. J. How
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to set up a compensation fund to assist investors who have lost funds through C. J. How.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 February 1990] : None.
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the responsibilities of FIMBRA in respect of the investment company C. J. How.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 February 1990] : From 1 January 1984 until the introduction of the Financial Services Act on 29 April 1988, FIMBRA was recognised under section 15 of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act. C. J. How was a member of FIMBRA between July 1982 and January 1988 and FIMBRA was therefore responsible for the regulation of the firm's business of dealing in securities from January 1984 until January 1988 when its membership was terminated.
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was first aware that the investment company C. J. How had lost its membership of FIMBRA and what action was taken to alert existing and potential investors.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 February 1990] : My Department was notified on 21 January 1988 that FIMBRA had terminated the membership of C. J. How. My Department was not notified whether FIMBRA had publicised that fact.
Self-regulatory Organisations
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that private investors are made aware when investment companies cease to be authorised by a self-regulatory organisation under the Financial Services Act.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 February 1990] : This is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board.
Tied Agents
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend the Financial Services Act to make principals responsible for all products sold by their tied agents.
Mr. Redwood : Under the Financial Services Act, a principal is responsible for its appointed representatives'
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actions in carrying on investment business for which the principal has accepted responsibility in writing. It is for the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating bodies to consider what requirements should be imposed on principals in relation to the activities of their appointed representatives. I have no plans to amend the Financial Services Act in this regard.Garston Amhurst
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into the affairs of Garston Amhurst companies during the period they should have been regulated by his Department prior to the commencement of the Financial Services Act.
Mr. Redwood : If my Department receives information about companies in the Garston Amhurst group which suggests there is good reason to mount an investigation, I will of course consider doing so.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to discuss accountancy matters arising out of the role of Sieff Davidson as auditors to Garston Amhurst companies.
Mr. Redwood : I meet senior members of the professional accountancy bodies from time to time, but I cannot yet say whether it would be appropriate to raise the issues arising from the Garston Amhurst case when I next meet the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to monitor progress being made by the Securities and Investments Board in protecting the interests of investors in funds managed by Garston Amhurst-controlled companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : It is the responsibility of the Securities and Investments Board to ensure that the regulatory framework established by its own rules and those of the self-regulating bodies provides the appropriate level of protection for investors. The Secretary of State has responsibilities for general oversight of the regulatory system under the Financial Services Act, but not for its day-to-day operation.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his inspectors currently investigating Barlow Clowes will examine and report on the extent, number and nature of transactions between Barlow Clowes companies-investment funds and Garston Amhurst companies- investment funds.
Mr. Redwood : The inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Limited may inquire into any such matters to the extent that they consider necessary for the purpose of their investigation.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dover of 2 February, Official Report, columns 413-14, when Garston Amhurst companies started offering financial and investment advice to the public.
Mr. Redwood : This information is not available.
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Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what authorisation the Garston Amhurst companies held to market and advise on investments prior to the Financial Services Act becoming operational.Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information his Department has on connections between the auditors Sieff Davidson, the company Sieff Davidson Financial Services Limited and Garston Amhurst companies, their partners, directors and shareholders and as to whether any of those persons had authorisations to give financial and investment advice (a) prior to and (b) subsequent on the commencement of the Financial Services Act.
Mr. Redwood : Sieff Davidson, chartered accountants, is certified by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry on investment business. Sieff Davidson Financial Services Ltd., which was set up jointly by Sieff Davidson and the principal directors of Garston Amhurst Associates, is a member of the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association. None of these persons held a principal's or a representative's licence under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he is next due to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board ; and if he will raise the matter of Garston Amhurst with him and the nature of the protection given to investors by the Lautro rule book.
Mr. Redwood : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss issues of mutual interest as often as is necessary. No date has yet been set for the next such meeting.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Dover of 2 February, Official Report, column 413-14, what information he has on changes in the name of Garston Amhurst Associates (General) Ltd. and Garston Amhurst Associates Group Holdings Ltd.
Mr. Redwood : The company currently registered in the name Garston Amhurst Associates (General) Limited changed its name on 21 October 1986 from Garston Amhurst General Limited. There is no company currently registered by the name Garston Amhurst Associates Group Holdings Limited.
Securities Dealers
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has at any time since 1 January 1980 had discussions with or corresponded with James D. Krekis, Gordon M. Davies, C. Diccon Wright or Andrew S. Woodhouse with a view to any of them becoming licensed dealers in securities or registered representatives of a licensed dealer in securities, or any company of which any of them are or were directors becoming a licensed dealer in securities.
Mr. Redwood : None of the four people mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's question ever applied for a licence to
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deal in securities under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 either in their own name or through the companies in the Garston Amhurst Group. In late 1983 an official in my Department obtained documents suggesting that Garston Amhurst Associates might have been carrying on the business of dealing in securities without authorisation. My Department wrote to the company on 22 May 1984 advising that such activities might constitute an offence under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958. Following telephone calls from Mr. Wright and from his solicitors which attempted to clarify the scope of the Act, written assurances were received from the company's legal advisers that all such activities had ceased, and would not be resumed without the necessary authorisation being first obtained.Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what authorisations exist at the present time for the purposes of dealing in securities or the giving of financial advice to the public in the names of James D. Krekis, Gordon M. Davies, C. Diccon Wright and Andrew S. Woodhouse.
Target Group and National Financial Management Corporation
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what authorisations the Target Group and National Financial Management Corporation plc held from his Department prior to the commencement of the Financial Services Act.
Mr. Redwood : The main provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 came into effect on 29 April 1988. Immediately prior to this date, Target Investment Management Ltd. held a principal's licence under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958. Target Life Assurance Company Ltd. and National Financial Management Corporation plc (formerly known as Target Annuities Ltd.) were authorised to write insurance business in classes I- IV, VI and VII. Consumer credit licences covering categories A-F and Z were also held by Target Home Loans Ltd. and National Financial Management Corporation plc.
Seiff Davidson Financial Services Limited
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which self-regulatory body is responsible for the authorisation of Sieff Davidson Financial Services Limited and its directors and staff under the Financial Services Act.
Mr. Redwood : Seiff Davidson Financial Services Ltd. is a member of the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association.
HEALTH
Committee on Safety of Medicines
Mr. Hayes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether adverse reaction data submitted to the Committee of Medicines on yellow cards is the property of the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : National Health Service personal health information, from which adverse drug
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reactions (ADR) data are usually derived, will be the subject of a forthcoming circular. Yellow cards are issued by the statutory committees on safety of medicines and on dental and surgical materials for use by doctors, dentists and coroners in a voluntary scheme for reporting suspected ADRs. The information received is treated in strict confidence by those committees and the licensing authority.Health Service Inflation
Sir David Price : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report the indices of health service inflation for each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested has been placed in the Library.
AIDS
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on his Department's campaign on AIDS.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The objectives of the United Kingdom AIDS public education campaign and the Government's continuing commitment to them were reaffirmed at the symposium on HIV and AIDS jointly convened by the Health Departments and the Health Education Authority (HEA) on 24 November 1989.
The symposium provided an expert assessment of the potential for the spread of HIV in the United Kingdom. The consensus which emerged was that the three major routes of HIV transmission are now all well established,
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and that we must continue to work to increase and maintain public awareness of this. On 14 February the HEA launched the latest phase of the AIDS campaign. This builds on the outcome of the symposium and consists of statements from experts in the HIV and AIDS field about the transmission routes for HIV infection and the action people should take to protect themselves and those they love.The Government are also encouraging health and local authorities and the voluntary sector to develop co-ordinated local AIDS educational work.
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average life expectancy for people diagnosed with AIDS, defined as the length of time from their diagnosis with AIDS to their deaths, in (a) London, (b) Cardiff, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Manchester and (e) Birmingham.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 14 February 1990] : The current average survival time from diagnosis of AIDS to death is approximately 18 months. Numbers of cases outside London are still too small to permit significant comparisons of life expectancy to be made.
Thurrock Health Authority
Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in- patients and out-patients were treated (a) in England and (b) by Basildon and Thurrock health authority in each of the last two years.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is given in the table.
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Patients treated, NHS hospitals, England and Basildon and Thurrock district health
authority, 1987-88 and 1988-89
England Basildon and Thurrock
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|1987-88 |1988-89 |1987-88 |1988-89
In-patient cases |6,619,354 |6,585,982 |34,669 |33,706
Day cases |880,852 |1,016,327 |4,840 |5,966
New out-patients |8,529,759 |8,406,254 |42,800 |43,891
Total out-patient attendances |36,874,293|36,145,910|195,357 |193,323
Source: SH3a KH09 and KH18 returns
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent so far in the north-east by his Department by district health authorities and family practitioner committees to prepare for the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have no central information about any such local expenditure.
Social Workers
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from Northumberland social service regarding the implications of shortages of local authority social workers.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have received no such representations from Northumberland social services department.
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Schizophrenia
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently admitted to mental illness hospitals and units under compulsory powers with a diagnosis of schizophrenia ; how many of those admitted informally were subsequently detained as formal patients ; and what percentage they constituted of all patients admitted or subsequently detained under compulsory power.
Mr. Freeman : Figures relating diagnosis to legal status, either on admission or before discharge, are not available.
However in 1986, the latest year for which reliable diagnostic figures are available, there were 24,741 admissions, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units in England. This represents 12.5 per cent. of all admissions into these hospitals and units. The figures may exceed the number of patients since the same individual may be admitted and discharged more than once during the year.
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Overtime
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the amount of overtime worked in the ambulance service in each of the last four years for which figures are available ; if he will publish such information, in summary form, in the Official Report ; and if he will make a statement on his proposals to reduce the amounts of overtime worked.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The figures of overtime worked in the ambulance service are not readily available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Severn-Trent Water
Mr. Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has given the Severn-Trent water authority a full indemnity against any civil liability, including negligence, arising from the fluoridation of drinking water supplies by the company.
Mr. Freeman : A full indemnity was provided to Severn-Trent Water by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Treasury, on 21 November 1989.
North Western RHA
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial resources the North Western regional health authority has received over the last three years to run breast cancer screening programmes ; and how many mobile screening units are currently in operation.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : North Western regional health authority has received a total of £4,129,000 over the years 1987-88 to 1989-90 to introduce and run breast cancer screening by mammography. There are two mobile breast cancer screening units currently in operation in the North Western region. The centres are based in the following areas :
(a) South Manchester--serving Manchester and
(b) West Lancashire and Chorley and South Ribble--serving both those districts.
Further mobile units are planned for introduction in March 1990 and July 1990.
Ambulance Service
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had regarding the ambulance workers' pay claim ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 17 January at column 278.
National Health Service Reorganisation
Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has any plans to reduce the number of district health authorities.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Any proposal to reduce the number of district health authorities within a region has to be considered by the regional health authority concerned and submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend the
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Secretary of State. Each case is subject to full public consultation and my right hon. and learned Friend needs to be convinced that there is a compelling case for change before approving it. The Health Service reforms are about concentrating management where it matters, not about widespread restructuring.Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards promotion by the South West regional health authority regional general manager of the amalgamation of North Devon district health authority, Exeter district health authority or Torbay district health authority with each other, or with any other district health authority or district health authorities in the context of the National Health Service structure after reorganisation ; and what information he has as to the policy of the South West regional health authority.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Any proposals to merge health authorities would need to be subject to full consultation by the regional health authority. We would expect there to be broad agreement that any proposed merger would be in the interests of the population served. Any recommendations arising out of the consultation would be considered by my right hon. and learned Friend, who would need to be convinced that there were compelling reasons for the change before approving it. The South Western regional health authority has not formulated a policy on this matter.
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the minimum notice that a district health authority will be required to give to terminate a block contract for health care.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The duration of any contract will be a matter for negotiation and agreement between the contracting parties. However, the Department has advised that for block contracts the norm should be for three year initial contracts with a further 12 months extension negotiated annually. This would ensure that both parties received at least two years notice of any proposal for significant change.
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government intend to take to monitor the effects of the proposed changes in the National Health Service on (a) the quality of care provided, (b) the quantity of care provided, (c) the degree to which provision meets needs for care and (d) the travelling time of patients to obtain care.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The proposed system of contract placement will allow district health authorities to specify the nature and quality of services and ensure that patient services are of a satisfactory standard. It will be for the National Health Service management executive to satisfy itself, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, that high and improved standards of care are provided as our proposals are implemented. We have asked it to devise suitable methods of monitoring Health Service provision to achieve this.
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply of 12 February sent to the hon. Member for Walsall, North, Official Report, columns 22-25, what form of consultation has so far occurred over hospitals opting out of the existing National Health Service management structures ; and if he will give the result of such consultation area by area.
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Formal consultation on proposals to establish NHS trusts cannot take place until after the necessary legislation has received Royal Assent. Information is not available centrally on any informal consultation by units which have expressed an interest in trust status.Registration of Marriages
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to bring forward legislation to reform the law affecting the registration of marriages.
Mr. Freeman : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 1 February 1990 at columns 354-55 announcing publication of a White Paper "Registration Proposals for Change" (Cm 939.) The White Paper contains proposals for reform of the registration system in England and Wales, including changes to the conduct and registration of civil marriages.
The Government hope to introduce the legislation necessary to effect those returns at an early opportunity during the present Parliament.
General Practitioners
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the chairman of North Yorkshire family practitioners committee to investigate and report on the circumstances in which 120 patients have been removed from the list of patients and the practice in Filey, Yorkshire, of Dr. P. Garnett and partners ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 12 February at column 28. The address of the North Yorkshire family practitioners committee is Ryedale house, 60 Piccadilly, York YO1 1PE.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much extra funding will be available to each of the three general practitioner practices in Calderdale who have applied to become budget holders.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : To date, practices have been invited only to register their interest in fund holding, since the legislative provision for the operation of the scheme is not yet in place. It is not possible, therefore, to give any estimate of the level of funds which might be available to individual practices.
Practices which volunteer to join the scheme will be able to claim an annual management allowance of up to £32,000 to meet expenses legitimately incurred in running a fund. In 1990-91 an allowance of half that level will be available in recognition of the preparatory work which practices will have to undertake before entering the scheme.
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much time he considers that each doctor should spend on medical audit in addition to that currently spent ; and what steps he is planning to take to provide additional resources to ensure that that time is not at the expense of patient care.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Medical audit is essentially a professional matter. Doctors will be advised by their professional bodies, including the royal colleges, on how
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