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Column 296
considered by the Veterinary Products Committee concerning the effect of food produced by the use of bovine somatotropin on human health ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gummer : The Committee has seen the results of research into the composition of milk from treated and untreated cows which identified minute differences in the average content of lipids, biotin, IGF1 and BST. It has also seen the results of research into the effect of these four substances on humans and has taken advice from nutritional experts. It is satisfied that the widespread use of BST to increase milk yields would not adversely affect the health of consumers.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the possible extension of the present EC ban on bovine somatotropin ; and when he expects the matter to be further discussed at the Council of Ministers.
Mr. Maclean : The Commission has made no proposals for arrangements to apply after the current moratorium on the use of BST expires. If it does, my right hon. Friend will determine his policy according to the merit of the proposals. Progress made by the Commission with its report on the future use of BST was raised under other business at the Argiculture Council on 18-19 November. The Commission indicated that it expected to report to the Council within the next few weeks.
Fishing Vessels
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the number of draft proposals he has received from sea fisheries committees to regulate the use of fixed engines and the number he rejected in respect of the last 12 months for which data are available.
Mr. Curry : Ministerial confirmation has been sought for three byelaws made by sea fisheries committees to regulate the placing or use of fixed engines. One needs to be re-advertised and we are in active correspondence with the relevant SFC on the other two on drafting and procedural points respectively. None has been rejected.
Our Farming Future"
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he intends to distribute copies of "Our Farming Future" to individual farmers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : Copies of "Our Farming Future" are available to farmers on request from the Ministry, particularly through its regional and divisional offices. Copies have also been provided to the National Farmers Union.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to publish the follow-up to "Our Farming Future" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : Decisions on any future statements of Government policy on agriculture will be taken in the light of the outcome of negotiations on CAP reform and on the Uruguay round.
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Environmental Health
Ms. Walley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet the Institution of Environmental Health Officers to discuss whether meat inspection should remain a local authority function.
Mr. Maclean : Our officials and those of the Department of Health are in regular contact with representatives of the institution, and have on a number of occasions discussed with them the future arrangements for meat hygiene enforcement. In addition, the institution has submitted written evidence to the review of meat hygiene enforcement in Great Britain and was represented on the review consultative panel. The views of the institution will be taken fully into account by the Agriculture and Health Ministers when a decision is reached on future meat hygiene enforcement arrangements.
Dairy Industry
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present state of the dairy industry ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : Dairy farming remains a relatively profitable sector of United Kingdom agriculture, sustained by support prices substantially above world market levels. Despite the existence of quotas limiting production, more than 20 per cent. of EC milk production in 1990 required subsidised disposal. It remains our long-term aim to return to a more market-oriented system in the dairy sector, including the eventual removal of production quotas. In the meantime we are convinced of the need to change United Kingdom milk marketing arrangements to enable the industry to meet the challenge of the single market.
Tobacco
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the cost to the Exchequer of the common agricultural policy tobacco regime.
Mr. Curry : The EC Commission has tabled proposals for the reform of the tobacco regime which, it estimates, would result in budgetary savings of some 418 million ECU(B)--£291 million--a year when fully implemented. In discussion of these proposals the Government are pressing for the most radical reform negotiable.
Beef Imports
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of live cattle and the tonnage of beef imported into Great Britain for human consumption from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively for each year since 1985.
Mr. Curry [holding answer 11 November 1991] : Imports from the Republic of Ireland, since 1985, are as follows :
|Beef |Cattle
|(tonnes) |(Number of
|head)
--------------------------------------------
1985 |84,000 |220,000
1986 |122,000 |232,000
1987 |123,000 |151,000
1988 |112,000 |175,000
1989 |84,000 |115,000
1990 |78,000 |121,000
Note: Figures to nearest '000 tonnes.
Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
We are unable to provide figures for imports from Northern Ireland as these statistics are not collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
Pollution
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution has been made to date by his Department to Her Majesty's Government's submission on control and reduction of aquatic pollution to the preparatory committee meetings for the United Nations conference on environment and development in Brazil in 1992 ; and what proposals he expects to be submitted on oceanic and marine pollution by Her Majesty's Government to the UNCED from the present day to June 1992.
Mr. Curry : The Ministry has been involved in the normal way in the Government's collective consideration of aquatic pollution matters arising in the preparatory committee meetings for the United Nations conference on environment and development. A very wide range of proposals is already under discussion at those meetings.
DEFENCE
Reserve Forces Act 1980
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to propose amendments to the Reserve Forces Act 1980 in the light of the Gulf war experiences.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Studies into the role and size of the reserve forces are currently being undertaken as a result of both the "Options for Change" exercise and our Gulf war experiences. In the light of the conclusions of these studies we will, of course, consider whether a review of our existing reserves legislation will be required.
Medical Services
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to review the present level of medical services for the armed forces ; and when he expects to announce the results.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A review is in progress to consider the future requirement for medical support to the armed forces, the outcome of which will in part be reliant upon other changes in the armed forces. It is too early to say when the review will be complete.
Ministry Houses, Fife
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses are owned by the Ministry of Defence in Fife, North-East ; and what is the current occupancy rate.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : As at 30 September 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, the Ministry of Defence owned 726 houses and flats in the Fife, North-East constituency, of which 633 were occupied representing 87 per cent. of the total stock. Many of the unoccupied properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation or were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly. In addition, two properties were in the process of being sold.Column 300
Fishing Vessels (Accidents)
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about all types of incidents leading to damage or loss of life involving fishing boats and submarines in (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991 to date ; and if he has made any arrangements to alter the method of notification of such incidents.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information requested for Royal Navy submarines is as follows :
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Date |Vessel |Area |Incident -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 June 1989 |FV Huntress |Clyde |Submarine snagged nets 12 September 1989 |FV Contester |Irish Sea |Submarine communications buoy became caught in nets 13 November 1989 |FV Scotia |Off Lewis |Submarine snagged nets 22 November 1990 |FV Antares |Clyde |Submarine snagged nets and as a result the fishing vessel capsized and sank
Over the same period, there were also two incidents involving United States submarines in United Kingdom waters, neither of which involved the loss of life.
There have been no changes in the arrangements for reporting incidents between Royal Navy ships and civilian craft.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all compensation payments (a) already made and (b) outstanding to owners of fishing boats for damage caused by submarine activity in each year since 1979.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The following list relates solely to damage caused or alleged to be caused by Royal Navy submarines :
|Number of
|claims and
|compensation
|paid
------------------------------------------------------
1979
Number of claims made |4
Number refuted |1
Number settled |3
Amount of compensation paid |£1,008.00
1980
Number of claims made |1
Number settled |1
Amount of compensation paid |£2,900.00
1981
Number of claims made |1
Number settled |1
Amount of compensation paid |£2,800.00
1982
Number of claims made |2
Number settled |2
Amount of compensation paid |£451,000.00
1983
Number of claims made |4
Number refuted |3
Number settled |1
Amount of compensation paid |£24,273.96
1984
Number of claims |1
Number settled |1
Amount of compensation paid |£8,013.54
1985
No incidents
1986
Number of claims |2
Number refuted |2
1987
Number of claims |2
Number refuted |1
Number settled |1
Amount of compensation paid |£9,611.00
1988
Number of claims |4
Number refuted |1
Number settled |3
Amount of compensation paid |£19,000.00
1989
Number of claims |4
Number refuted |2
Number outstanding |1
Number settled |1
Amount of compensation paid |£18,963.41
1990
Number of claims |1
Number outstanding |1
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiry reports his Department has received from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch since 1979 of losses of, or damage to, fishing vessels ; what action has been taken in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Department currently holds reports of the marine accident investigation branch investigations into incidents between submarines and the fishing vessels Huntress and Scotia. These reports were taken into account when formulating current operating instructions. Reports into incidents involving the fishing vessels Mhari-L, Inspire and Moray Adventurer are also held. There was no Royal Navy involvement in these incidents and therefore no need for any subsequent follow-up action by this Department.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the last three years the number of occasions the Royal Navy air-sea rescue has been called out to deal with incidents involving fishing vessels at sea ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The following table provides details of call-outs of both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force search -and-rescue helicopters to incidents involving fishing vessels at sea during 1988, 1989, 1990 and to 31 August 1991 :
|1988|1989|1990|1991
------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy |42 |59 |47 |46
Royal Air Force |179 |185 |145 |81
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total number of people
recovered |116 |166 |114 |108
MFV Inspire
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the verdict of the jury in relation to the sinking of the Inspire and the possibility of submarine involvement ; what information he has concerning activities of (a) United Kingdom, (b) NATO and (c) other countries' submarines in the area at the date and time in question ; what action he proposes to take ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I understand that the jury at the inquest returned a verdict of death by unlawful killing. As was made clear in the evidence given, there were no Royal Navy or NATO submarines in Cardigan bay or the Irish sea on the day in question. Nor, to the best of our knowledge, were there any submarines belonging to other nations in the area at the time. I therefore see no need for the Ministry of Defence to take any action as a result of the inquest.
Exercise Cockfight
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what surface and submarine vessels will be involved in Exercise Cockfight in the firth of Clyde later this month ; what is the total duration of the exercise ; what will be the extent of submarine activity and during which periods ; what representations he has received expressing concern at the dangers to fishing activity in the area ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : One Royal Navy and one Royal Netherlands Navy submarine, together with HMS Brave, His Belgian Majesty's naval ship Wielingen, HMS Sentinel and support craft of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service are taking part in the inshore phase of Exercise Cockfight, which lasts from 23 to 28 November. During this period, both submarines will conduct dived operations in the Firth of Clyde on each day. The Clyde fishermen's associations have been given full details of planned submarine movements, which will also be notified under the subfacts arrangements. Representations on this exercise have been received from a number of hon. Members, representatives of Scottish fishing interests and others. Territorial Army
Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to pay the annual bounty to Territorial soldiers who served in the Gulf, although they have not served the statutory 15-day period camp or course.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We are considering a number of claims in the light of individual circumstances.
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Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Scottish Territorial soldiers have not received the annual bounty this year after serving in the Gulf with 205 Scottish general hospital.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This information is not immediately available, but I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 14 November, Official Report, column 672, if he will name the sergeant who died in Zimbabwe in September 1990 ; in which part of the country the accident took place ; what were the circumstances of the accident ; if there was an inquest ; and what were the duties in Zimbabwe of the non-commissioned officer in question.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The service man in question was Sergeant Sibajang Rai, of the 7th Gurkha Rifles. Sergeant Rai was part of the British military advisory team. The road traffic accident occurred in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe in the Nyanga area, on the Dombo road leading from the village of Nyanga to the Mozambique training team border camp. Sergeant Rai was killed when his vehicle overturned on the winding dirt road. No United Kingdom inquest was held as Sergeant Rai's body was repatriated to Hong Kong and therefore did not come under the jurisdiction of a United Kingdom coroner. Although a local post-mortem was conducted, the district administrative office in Nyanga did not require an inquest. Sergeant Rai's duties were as a platoon sergeant instructor of Mozambique recruits.
Ballistic Missiles
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all those countries assessed as possessing ballistic missiles.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The following countries are assessed as possessing ballistic missiles : Afghanistan, Belgium, Bulgaria, China (PRC), Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Syria, USSR, United States of America, United Kingdom and Yemen.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Army service personnel, (b) Royal Air Force service personnel and (c) Royal Navy personnel have applied for voluntary redundancy ; and whether he has any plans to make further offers of voluntary redundancy.
Mr. Archie Hamilton [pursuant to his reply, 8 November col. 296] : A reduction of 8,000 in total Royal Navy numbers is planned by 1995. Most of these will be achieved by natural turnover, reduced recruiting and by the application of certain manpower regulators. However, there will be a need for a limited redundancy programme, phased over two or three years. In 1992-93 this will affect about 80 captains and commanders and 320 warrant officers and chief and petty officers. It is hoped that this target will be achieved by voluntary means, but some
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compulsory measures cannot be ruled out in order to achieve the correct seniority spread within the ranks and specialisations. Personnel will be selected from categories in surplus, bearing in mind the need to maintain a balance of skills and experience. It will be necessary to include in the programme officers and ratings with significant time to serve as well as those within a few years of retirement/discharge.The same financial terms will apply as in all such service schemes since 1975. These provide for an immediate pension for those with 12 or more years service--instead of the normal 16 years for an officer and 22 for a rating--together with a tax-free capital payment of up to 18 months' pay in addition to the pension benefits. The detailed terms will shortly be promulgated to the Navy and applications will be invited to take effect in 1992-93.
All those selected are eligible for the full facilities of the resettlement programme, including counselling and up to 28 days' training to assist them in utilising their skills in the civilian job market. Help with job finding will be available from the employment liaison officer, Navy, the Officers Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association, both of which receive funding from the Department. Full details of these and other agencies will be covered in resettlement interviews. Advice is also included on how to set about finding housing and how to put special capital payment and pensions to best use for this purpose. It is expected that most naval personnel leaving on this basis will have made, or will be able to make, suitable arrangements for their housing needs. Where this is not the case we are currently studying a number of options in order to assist in both the short and long term.
In the case of the Army, we have received applications from 4,492 soldiers and 801 officers for the scheme in 1992-93. I am pleased therefore to say that all the reduction of 2,500 soldiers and the large majority of the reduction of 850 officers in 1992-93 will be from those who asked to be considered. It will, however, be necessary to select about 160 officers of middle and more senior rank who have not put their names forward for consideration. Selection boards are now sitting and everyone will be notified on 26 February 1992.
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In the RAF, the need for redundancies remains under consideration.Royal Navy Ships
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) why, pursuant to his answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 253, he has reversed his decision announced on 21 October, Official Report, column 446, to place HMS Humber in reserve ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) when, pursuant to his answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 253, it was decided to place HMS Ribble in reserve ; to which Royal Naval Reserve sea training centre it was allocated ; and where those Royal Naval Reserve personnel affected will now have access to sea training.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The decision to place two River class minesweepers in reserve was taken earlier this year as part of our annual review of the forward equipment programme. Originally HMS Humber and HMS Helmsdale were identified. It was decided subsequently that HMS Ribble should be placed in reserve rather than HMS Humber which was in better condition. HMS Ribble had been allocated to HMS Eaglet in Liverpool ; HMS Humber will replace HMS Ribble there, and will continue to provide access to sea training for Royal Naval Reserve personnel.
HEALTH
Hypothermia
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing how many people categorised by age died of hypothermia, or illnesses associated with hypothermia, in each year since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The information is given in the following tables :
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Number of deaths, and rates per million population, for which hypothermia<1> was stated as the underlying cause of death in England
1979-90\#\
Year Age at death
|All ages<2>|Under 1<2> |1-4 |5-9 |10-14 |15-19 |20-24 |25-29 |30-34 |35-39
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Number |404 |7 |1 |- |- |3 |2 |6 |4
Rate |8.7 |12.0 |0.5 |- |- |0.8 |- |0.6 |1.7 |1.4
1980
Number |245 |3 |- |- |1 |1 |1 |1 |2 |2
Rate |5.2 |5.0 |- |- |0.3 |0.3 |0.3 |0.3 |0.6 |0.7
1981
Number |250 |2 |2 |- |- |1 |- |2 |2 |2
Rate |5.3 |3.3 |0.9 |- |- |0.3 |- |0.6 |0.6 |0.7
1982
Number |301 |2 |- |- |1 |2 |4 |- |- |1
Rate |6.4 |3.4 |- |- |0.3 |0.5 |1.1 |- |- |0.3
1983
Number |209 |2 |- |- |- |- |1 |2 |1 |5
Rate |4.5 |3.4 |- |- |- |- |0.3 |0.6 |0.3 |1.5
1984
Number |249 |2 |- |1 |- |3 |1 |1 |1 |3
Rate |5.3 |3.4 |- |0.4 |- |0.8 |0.3 |0.3 |0.3 |0.9
1985
Number |407 |2 |1 |1 |- |1 |2 |2 |3 |6
Rate |8.7 |3.3 |0.4 |- |- |0.5 |0.6 |1.0 |1.7
1986
Number |411 |- |- |- |- |2 |3 |4 |2 |2
Rate |8.7 |- |- |- |- |0.5 |0.7 |1.1 |0.6 |0.6
1987
Number |249 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |1 |10
Rate |5.3 |- |- |- |- |- |0.3 |0.3 |0.3 |3.0
1988
Number |181 |- |2 |- |- |- |1 |- |4 |1
Rate |3.8 |- |0.8 |- |- |- |0.3 |- |1.2 |0.3
1989
Number |156 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |-
Rate |3.3 |- |- |- |- |- |0.3 |- |- |-
1990
Number |143 |- |- |- |- |2 |1 |1 |-
Rate |3.0 |- |- |- |- |- |0.5 |0.3 |0.3 |-
Year |40 to 44|45 to 49|50 to 54|55 to 59|60 to 64|65 to 69|70 to 74|75 to 79|80 to 84|85 and
|over
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Number |8 |4 |9 |20 |32 |24 |49 |60 |79 |96
Rate |3.0 |1.5 |3.3 |6.8 |14.1 |10.1 |24.8 |43.6 |104.3 |197.3
1980
Number3 |5 |8 |13 |12 |23 |25 |57 |41 |47
Rate |1.1 |1.9 |3.0 |4.6 |5.1 |9.7 |12.5 |40.5 |52.3 |94.0
1981
Number |5 |6 |8 |7 |11 |14 |22 |54 |43 |69
Rate |1.9 |2.3 |3.0 |2.6 |4.5 |6.0 |11.0 |37.6 |52.8 |135.0
1982
Number4 |7 |13 |14 |11 |32 |38 |41 |54 |77
Rate |1.5 |2.7 |5.0 |5.3 |4.3 |14.1 |18.9 |28.1 |64.0 |146.0
1983
Number |3 |6 |3 |6 |11 |14 |25 |39 |41 |54
Rate |1.1 |2.3 |1.2 |2.3 |4.1 |6.5 |12.4 |26.2 |46.7 |92.5
1984
Number |1 |8 |7 |6 |15 |15 |42 |43 |44 |56
Rate |0.4 |3.0 |2.7 |2.3 |5.5 |7.4 |20.8 |28.3 |48.3 |100.3
1985
Number |4 |7 |9 |9 |19 |23 |41 |96 |74 |108
Rate |1.4 |2.6 |3.6 |3.5 |7.2 |10.8 |20.4 |62.5 |79.1 |185.9
1986
Number |6 |7 |6 |17 |26 |26 |34 |64 |90 |122
Rate |2.0 |2.7 |2.4 |6.7 |10.2 |11.8 |17.1 |41.4 |94.1 |202.2
1987
Number |6 |7 |5 |13 |16 |21 |25 |36 |48 |59
Rate |1.8 |2.7 |2.0 |5.1 |6.4 |9.1 |13.0 |23.1 |48.7 |91.0
1988
Number |5 |8 |4 |6 |10 |16 |14 |18 |42 |50
Rate |1.5 |3.0 |1.6 |2.4 |4.1 |6.7 |7.7 |11.5 |41.6 |73.7
1989
Number |4 |2 |3 |4 |8 |11 |23 |20 |26 |54
Rate |1.2 |0.7 |1.2 |1.6 |3.3 |4.4 |13.4 |12.7 |25.1 |75.8
1990
Number |6 |3 |1 |2 |11 |12 |13 |27 |25 |39
Rate |1.7 |1.1 |0.4 |0.8 |4.6 |5.0 |7.2 |17.1 |23.8 |52.7
<1> International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision codes 778.3 and 991.6.
<2> Excluding deaths at ages under 28 days for the years 1986 to 1990.
Number of deaths with mention of hypothermia on the death certificate in England and Wales, 1979-1990 Year |Number of deaths --------------------------------------------------- 1979 |863 1980 |596 1981 |685 1982 |664 1983 |538 1984 |555 1985 |827 1986 |837 1987 |559 1988 |440 1989 |368 1990 |370
Mental and Psychiatric Illness
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of hospital in-patient admissions on grounds of mental or psychiatric illness in each regional health authority area for each quarterly period from 1 April 1989.
Mr. Dorrell : Provisional figures for the financial year 1989-90 are shown in the table. It is not possible to produce a quarterly breakdown of these figures without incurring disproportionate cost.
Estimated Admissions, under the care of a Mental Illness
Consultant, to National Health Service hospitals and units, by
Regional Health Authority during 1989-90.
Regional Health Authority |Admissions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |14,100
Yorkshire |15,200
Trent |13,900
East Anglian |7,300
North West Thames |13,700
North East Thames |17,000
South East Thames |14,700
South West Thames |12,900
Wessex |12,800
Oxford |8,000
South Western |17,200
West Midlands |17,200
Mersey |10,000
North Western |18,700
SHAs |1,700
|-------
England |194,500
Note: Figures may not add due to rounding.
Lancashire Ambulance Service
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in each of the last five years ambulances of the Lancashire ambulance service have been used to convey private patients.
Mr. Dorrell : The information is not available in the form requested.
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The table shows the number of patient journeys carried out by the Lancashire ambulance service for each year from 1986 to 1990-91 for which a charge was made. Patients charged for include those moved on behalf of social services or other departments of local authorities, organisations on repayment, and private individuals.
Patient transport services: summary of
patient journeys
Lancashire Ambulance Authority
Year |Total number
|of patients
|charged for
---------------------------------------
1986 |15
<1>1987-88 |104
1988-89 |69
<2>1989-90 |33
1990-91 |90
<1> From 1987 collection of data
changed from years ending31 December
to years ending 31 March.
<2> The industrial action during 1989
has affected data quality and
completeness.
Youth Treatment Centres
Sir Robert McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made appointments to his special group on youth treatment centres ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : On 1 October 1991 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health established a special group of outside people to provide independent advice about the youth treatment centres. Chaired by Mrs. Winifred Tumim, the group consists of : Dr. Zarrina Kurtz, assistant regional medical officer in South West Thames regional health authority ; Mr. Tom White CBE, chief executive of the National Children's Homes ; Mr. Harry Cayton, director of the Alzheimers Disease Society ; and Dr. Michael Lindsay, from 1987 children's rights officer for Leicestershire social services department. Their responsibility is to provide an independent perspective on care and practice in the youth treatment service, with particular regard to ensuring that children's rights are properly safeguarded, and to advise the Secretary of State on these matters. Their periodic reports will be published.
The social services inspectorate remains the principal monitoring arm for detailed scrutiny of the standard of care, control, education and rehabilitation programmes provided in the centres. Medical and nursing experts and HMIs will form part of this evaluation. There will be a full inspection every three years and reports will be published.
On 1 April 1992, the service will be managed by a chief executive accountable to the Secretary of State for the facilities provided under section 82(5) of the Children Act 1989. After open competition Mr. Eugene Ostapuik, the director of Glenthorne YTC, has been appointed chief executive for the whole service. He will be chief executive designate with effect from 1 December 1991 and will take up post next April, initially for a three-year term. He will
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be supported by an advisory committee, which will help him to keep the service abreast of child care practice. A service specification for the new organisation will be published in the new year. The Secretary of State's special group is being consulted at the drafting stage. Meanwhile, regulations and guidance on secure accommodation, which came into effect on 14 October 1991 under the Children Act 1989, have been applied administratively to the Glenthorne and St. Charles youth treatment centres.On 24 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced temporary management changes at the St. Charles YTC following an inquiry into complaints about treatment at that centre, Official Report, Volume 193, col. 687-93. The disciplinary inquiry into the conduct of some members of staff at St. Charles YTC is continuing. My right hon. Friend also announced a review to ensure that the headquarters of the Department of Health had pursued with proper vigour and judgment the recommendations of the inspection by the social services inspectorate in 1988. He asked Sir Ewen Broadbent to consider the circumstances, and I am placing a copy of Sir Ewen's report in the Library. Sir Ewen concluded, broadly, that those parts of the Department closely concerned with the SSI inspection report acted with efficiency and vigour.
The YTCs cater for the country's most difficult adolescents. The work is always demanding, often stressful and the many achievements go largely unnoticed. The new management structure will promote better integration of care practice and standards as well as improved value for money.
Pimozide
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year the numbers of reports of (a) cardiac arrhythmias (fatal and non-fatal) and (b) other fatalities associated with pimozide which were reported to the licensing authority since it was first licensed ; and indicate in all those cases the dose of pimozide used and types and doses of other anti-psychotic medicines which were taken at the same time as pimozide.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : There have been 29 yellow card reports of cardiac arrhythmias associated with the drug pimozide, of which 14 were fatal. The breakdown by year is as follows :
, Year of |Reports |Fatalities Report -------------------------------------------- 1971 |2 |- 1980 |1 |- 1984 |1 |- 1988 |2 |1 1989 |2 |1 1990 |14 |8 1991 |7 |4
There have been seven other fatalities associated with pimozide as follows :
Year of |Fatalities Report --------------------------------- 1972 |1 1978 |1 1980 |3 1984 |1 1986 |1
The daily dose of pimozide and concurrent use of neuroleptic agents in the fatal reports is summarised as follows :
4 Daily dose |Total |Concurrent (mg) |Neuroleptics ---------------------------------------------------- <10 |5 |2 11-20 |2 |2 21-30 |2 |- 31-40 |5 |4 41-50 |2 |1 51-60 |2 |2 61+ |3 |2
I will write to the right hon. Member with full details of dose and other anti-psychotic medicines taken.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when doctors in the United Kingdom were recommended to reduce the maximum dosage of pimozide to 20 mg ; and when he first became aware of the United States recommendation on this matter.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : In August 1990, the Committee on Safety of Medicines advised that a maximum daily dose of 20 mg should not be exceeded for the drug pimozide. This information was communicated to all doctors in the United Kingdom in issue No. 29 of the CSM bulletin "Current Problems", a copy of which is available in the Library. The company marketing the drug wrote to all doctors in October 1990 enclosing a copy of the revised data sheet and emphasising the change in prescribing information and the maximum recommended dose of 20 mg per day.
Revised dose recommendations made in the United States in 1988 related to use in a different medical condition, commonly prevalent in children, and not to use in schizophrenia and other psychoses, the main indication in the United Kingdom.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the research proposals on myalgic encephalomyelitis that have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected for funding by his Department and the Medical Research Council over the last three years, stating in relation to rejected proposals the reasons for rejection in each case.
Mr. Dorrell : The Department has not accepted any research proposals on myalgic encephalomyelitis. Such proposals would normally be referred to the Medical Research Council, which is the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. It decides what research to support on its own expert judgment. The MRC is not currently funding research specifically into ME. It is, however, funding one study at the Institute of Psychiatry, which is to investigate chronic fatigue in general practitioner attenders. Five other research applications in this area were received over the last three years, which the MRC rejected because they were not of high enough scientific quality, given the funds available. The council also supports work on immune responses to
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the muscle, nerve cells and related structures which may have some relevance to the understanding and treatment of this condition.Social Work (International Centre)
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the recent feasibility study by the National Institute of Social Work concerning a proposed international centre, a copy of which has been sent to him.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have not as yet received a copy of the feasibility study which I understand is shortly to be put out for consultation. We are, however, providing the National Institute of Social Work with a grant of £100,000 in 1992-93 for work to promote the international exchange of social services staff.
Autistic Children
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any assessment of the number of autistic children in England and Wales ; and if he will give the total number of places in residential schools for autistic children.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The most reliable estimates indicate that the prevalence of autism is between four to five per 10,000 population. The number of places in residential schools for autistic children is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
National Health Service Leaflet (Cost)
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of the production and distribution of the leaflet, "Your NHS, Our Pledge", which was produced by South West Thames regional health authority.
Mr. Dorrell : A total of 7,000 copies of the leaflet "Your NHS, Our Pledge" were produced and distributed by South West Thames regional health authority at a cost of £2,181. Its purpose is to demonstrate the firm commitment of chairmen in that region to improving patient care through the charter.
National Health Service (Information Strategy)
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the information strategy for the national health service ; how much it will cost to implement : and whether additional funds will be made available to the national health service to cover the cost of implementation.
Mr. Dorrell : The national health service management executive is discussing the development of information systems within the national health service. Information systems must support the provision of high-- quality, cost-effective health services. The scope, costs and funding of information systems depend on the outcome of these discussions.
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Child Refugees
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child refugees have been taken into care by each London local authority during each of the last 12 months ; what information he has on their country of origin ; and what is the estimated cost of care to each local authority.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not collected centrally.
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