| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 242
Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis properties in Woolton road, Liverpool were valued for the purpose of disposal by the Liverpool district health authorities.
Mr. Dorrell : This information is not held centrally. The hon. Members may wish to contact Michael Emberton, the chairman of Liverpool health authority, for details.
Key Specialties
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table indicating the changes in waiting times in key specialties, for consultations referred from general practice between January 1990 and January 1991 for (a) the United Kingdom as a whole and (b) Sheffield.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Neill, the chairman of Sheffield health authority, for details.
Breast Cancer
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those breast cancer screening units (a) with and (b) without a breast care nurse.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not held centrally.
Social Services Staff (Training)
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is considering to improve the training of social services staff.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : On 31 January 1991 I announced a new training strategy for the personal social services. We shall be making an investment of £5 million additional money in 1991-92, rising to over £12 million in 1993-94, in a strategy which will enable us to launch a balanced programme of initiatives aimed at improving the quantity and quality of training for the social services work force as a whole. These include :
£2 million in 1991-92 to boost the supply of practice learning opportunities for social work students, of which £1.5 million will be used for the appointment of new practice teachers ;
£1.1 million in 1991-92 to fund extra Department of Health post- graduate grants ;
£1.2 million in 1991-92 to enable Certificate of Qualification in Social Work and Certificate of Social Services courses to convert to new diploma in social work programmes ;
£300,000 in 1991-92 to fund the development of a new framework for post-qualifying training, and the development of an advanced award. £50,000 in 1991-92 for grants to students on post-qualifying courses.
These initiatives are in addition to the training support programme, funding for which has been increased to £24.8 million for 1991-92. We believe that they represent a balanced programme of initiatives which will result in the improvement of the quality of qualifying training for social workers, increase the supply of qualified social workers, improve the training of the existing work force and increase the availability and take up of post-qualifying training.
We will be working in active partnership with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, through whom many of these resources will be
Column 243
channelled. Our new investment in the training strategy will make a major contribution to ensuring that social services staff are ready to take on the new roles and tasks facing them in the 1990s.Student Nurses
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are (a) the average earnings of a student nurse in London and (b) a project 2000 bursary.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Student and pupil nurses on traditional courses make a substantial service contribution during the course of their training and receive a salary as well as in most cases a number of leads and allowances for the work they undertake. The estimated average annual earnings of a student nurse are as set out in the table.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1st year student nurse |7,970 |(8,706)|6,380 |(7,084)
3rd year student nurse |9,062 |(9,867)|6,737 |(8,195)
Project 2000 student
under/26 |4,700 |4,000
over/26 |5,200 |4,500
Project 2000 students are supernumerary but are required to give not less than 1,000 hours of rostered service contribution, usually during the final year of their course.
Health Authority Laboratory Services
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the contracting out of laboratory services by the Yorkshire health authority and Bradford health authority to Yorkshire Water Enterprises Ltd. ; what consultations have taken place with laboratory staff and their trade unions on this proposal ; what consultation has taken place with community health councils and local authorities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : We have received four representations on this subject. Discussions within the Yorkshire regional health authority are at a very early stage and the authority is aware that there are a number of parties who would wish to express a view should firmer proposals develop.
Column 244
Toxoplasmosis Immunity
Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the earliest date after a pregnancy is confirmed that testing for toxoplasmosis immunity is carried out on blood samples taken from the pregnant woman ; and whether any steps are being taken to standardise it throughout the country.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The test can be undertaken as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. On routine screening for this condition in pregnant women, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 13 November 1990 at column 110.
Care Homes
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield of 24 January, Official Report, column 295, whether a local authority's ongoing responsibilities to people after they have been placed in local authority care home trusts differs from its ongoing responsibilities towards people placed in local authority hostels.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 1 February 1991] : In making arrangements for providing residential accommodation under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 local authorities are under a statutory duty to have regard to the welfare of all persons for whom accommodation is provided, whether that accommodation is in the local authorities' own homes or provided under arrangements with the voluntary or private sector. People placed outside a local authority's own accommodation will be protected by contracts between the local authority and the establishment with whom the arrangements are made.
Local authorities have statutory duties of inspection in relation to residential care homes registered under part 1 of the Registered Homes Act 1984, including those registered on transfer by the local authority to an independent agency, and will be required to establish arm's-length inspection units in respect of their own accommodation from 1 April this year.
Local authorities also have a duty of care towards people placed in local authority hostels under schedule 8 to the National Health Service Act 1977.
In addition, local authorities are required to establish complaints procedures by April this year which will further safeguard those in residential care.
Column 245
SOCIAL SECURITY
Child Benefit
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the yield in 1991-92 from freezing child benefit for all children over the age of five years at its current rate ; and what increase in the rate of child benefit for children under the age of five years could be financed by such a freeze.
Mr. Jack : The yield would be approximately £240 million. This could fund an increase of £2.40 per week for each child under five to the current rate of child benefit of £7.25.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the years since 1961 in which the real value of child benefit or the family support which preceded it for a family with three or more children exceeded its value in 1961.
Mr. Jack : The information requested is contained in the table H3.07 of "Social Security Statistics 1990", a copy of which is in the Library.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing child benefit expenditure from 1991-92 broken down into (a) gross income bands, (b) gross equivalent income bands and (c) net equivalent income bands, showing the number of children falling into each band.
Mr. Jack [holding answer 23 January 1991] : Information about the income of families receiving child benefit is not routinely collected. The following figures relating to the distribution of gross and net income are based on sample survey data which are subject to normal sampling and response variations. Table (a) shows the actual numbers of children in actual gross family income bands whereas tables (b) and (c) are derived from the process of equivalisation. Equivalisation is explained in pages 76 -77 of "Households Below Average Income 1981-87" a copy of which is in the Library.
(a) Gross Income
Income bands |Number of children|Child Benefit
£ |(000s) |expenditure
|(£ million)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 5,000 |265 |110
5-10,000 |2,665 |1,080
10-15,000 |2,115 |855
15-20,000 |2,385 |970
20,000 and above |4,830 |1,960
|------- |-------
Total |12,225 |4,960
(b) Equivalised gross income
Income bands |Number of children|Child Benefit
£ |(000s) |expenditure
|(£ million)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 5,000 |740 |295
5-10,000 |3,965 |1,605
10-15,000 |3,280 |1,330
15-20,000 |2,105 |860
20,000 and above |2,150 |880
|------- |-------
Total |12,225 |4,960
(c) Equivalised net income
Income bands |Number of children|Child Benefit
£ |(000s) |expenditure
|(£ million)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 5,000 |750 |300
5-10,000 |5,505 |2,225
10-15,000 |3,575 |1,455
15-20,000 |1,390 |570
20,000 and above |1,020 |420
|------- |-------
Total |12,225 |4,960
Notes:
1. Estimates do not sum due to rounding.
2. Estimates are based on the 1986, 1987 and 1988 FES uprated to 1991-92
earnings and benefits levels.
3. Gross income is the family's total income from all sources including
benefits.
4. Estimates take no account of any failure to claim income-related
benefits.
5. Equivalence scales are calculated giving a married couple a value of
1.00. Details of scales are given in Households Below Average Incomes' (
pages 76-77).
Claim Forms
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each benefit administered by his Department the steps taken by his Department to simplify the forms used by claimants.
Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is in the table. Attendance Allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Impartial research and testing for revisions and improvements. Consultation with Welfare Departments and voluntary groups. Invalid Care Allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Impartial research and testing for revisions and improvements planned for April 1991.
Consultation with Welfare Departments and voluntary groups. Mobility Allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Consultation with Welfare Departments and voluntary groups. Social Fund :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Consultation with Welfare Departments and voluntary groups. Impartial research and testing for revisions and improvements. Sickness Benefit :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Invalidity Benefit :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Child Benefit :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted,
Impartial research and testing for revision and improvements. Family Credit :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions
Column 247
have been made and adopted.Impartial research and testing for revision and improve- ment planned for February 1991.
Income Support :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Consultation with Welfare Departments and voluntary groups. Maternity Allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
One Parent Benefit :
Operational and policy review of reforms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Guardians Allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Industrial Death Benefit :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Retirement Pension :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Consultation with Welfare Departments and voluntary groups. Severe Disablement Allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Impartial research and testing for revision and improvement. Statutory Maternity Pay :
Operational and policy review of forms staff
suggestions have been made and adopted.
Statutory sick pay :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Impartial research and testing of information available in support of the form.
War pensions :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Widows' benefits :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Agency form (NHS benefits) :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Impartial research and testing for revision and improvements. War widows' or dependents' pension :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
Widowed mother's allowance :
Operational and policy review of forms.
Staff suggestions have been made and adopted.
| Next Section
| Home Page |