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Mr. Alan Howarth : I have been asked to reply.
Column 80
The Welsh plant breeding station (WPBS) at Gogerddan is a constituent part of the AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) which has other sites at Hurley in Berkshire (due for closure in 1992) and at North Wyke in Devon. The AFRC is an independent body and is responsible for approving programmes of work carried out at its institutes.I understand that AFRC is just completing a major £5.75 million redevelopment of the Gogerddan site to improve research facilities and house staff relocated from Hurley, and is taking over the Trawsgoed experimental husbandry farm from MAFF as a research farm. This will enable the institute to pursue a basic and strategic research programme approved by AFRC aimed at developing environmentally sensitive grassland-based animal agriculture.
HEALTH
Clinical Trials
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require ethics committees to maintain long-term storage of the records of people involved in scientific clinical trials to enable long -term follow up to be carried out if it later emerges that this should be done to check for an unexpected long-term, or slow to develop, after- effect.
Mr. Dorrell : Research ethics committees have no powers to gain access to or require the long-term storage of the records of people involved in scientific clinical trials. Hospitals are currently required to keep the medical records of all patients, including those involved in trials, for a minimum of eight years after the end of treatment. In addition, a recent EC directive (91/507/EC, adopted on 19 July 1991 and shortly to be implemented in the UK) requires the person responsible for marketing a medicinal product to keep codes, identifying patients involved in the trial, for a minimum of 15 years. This additional requirement should further facilitate the identification of clinical trial subjects.
Causes of Death
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the causes of death of men aged over 65 years and women over 60 years in each month from January 1988 to the latest convenient date, identifying separately the numbers who died from hypothermia.
Mr. Dorrell : The information is not readily available in the form requested. Annual figures showing deaths by cause are published in "Mortality Statistics : Cause", Series DH2, copies of which are available in the Library.
The table shows deaths registered in each month from January 1988 to September 1991, for men aged 65 and over, and women aged 60 and over. It includes deaths from all causes and from hypothermia. It also shows deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate.
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Number of deaths from all causes, and for hypothermia as a mention on the death certificate, and also as an underlying
cause of death<1> by age,
sex, and month of registration, 1988 to 1991
All causes Hypothermia mentions Hypothermia underlying cause of
death<1>
Month of |Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and
registration |over |over |over |over |over |over
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988
January |18,946 |23,745 |9 |37 |2 |14
February |19,376 |23,967 |24 |44 |8 |20
March |20,470 |26,370 |24 |29 |14 |17
April |16,923 |21,541 |7 |16 |3 |6
May |16,185 |20,047 |14 |16 |6 |7
June |16,712 |20,888 |4 |13 |4 |5
July |15,093 |18,536 |4 |3 |3 |0
August |16,528 |20,615 |4 |4 |2 |1
September |16,001 |19,457 |5 |10 |1 |5
October |16,790 |20,630 |3 |11 |0 |3
November |17,844 |22,256 |14 |20 |5 |6
December |19,256 |24,699 |15 |30 |6 |15
All causes Hypothermia mentions Hypothermia underlying cause of
death<1>
Month of |Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and
registration |over |over |over |over |over |over
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989
January |20,202 |25,839 |17 |32 |7 |13
February |16,734 |20,623 |9 |27 |4 |11
March |18,453 |22,991 |11 |31 |8 |14
April |16,324 |20,258 |11 |28 |4 |14
May |17,556 |21,649 |7 |22 |4 |15
June |16,708 |20,767 |2 |8 |0 |4
July |15,515 |19,667 |2 |5 |1 |2
August |15,289 |19,262 |1 |1 |0 |1
September |15,198 |18,703 |3 |4 |2 |1
October |17,290 |21,679 |2 |11 |0 |1
November |17,944 |22,341 |12 |12 |7 |3
December |25,874 |34,668 |20 |36 |12 |18
All causes Hypothermia mentions Hypothermia underlying cause of
death<1>
Month of |Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and
registration |over |over |over |over |over |over
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990
January |23,017 |30,237 |20 |35 |10 |14
February |17,362 |21,462 |20 |23 |10 |9
March |17,757 |21,596 |15 |28 |9 |13
April |17,311 |21,777 |11 |15 |2 |6
May |17,187 |21,021 |8 |17 |5 |9
June |15,881 |19,664 |2 |13 |2 |6
July |16,573 |20,582 |1 |6 |0 |3
August |15,575 |19,657 |2 |3 |0 |1
September |14,481 |17,568 |2 |5 |0 |3
October |17,959 |22,050 |5 |8 |3 |1
November |17,435 |21,244 |10 |21 |7 |6
December |19,622 |24,220 |15 |36 |3 |9
All causes Hypothermia mentions Hypothermia underlying cause of
death<1>
Month of |Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and|Males 65 and |Females 60 and
registration |over |over |over |over |over |over
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991<2>
January |22,016 |28,486 |22 |58 |10 |24
February |20,049 |25,641 |45 |75 |27 |30
March |17,204 |21,626 |17 |34 |11 |19
April |18,499 |23,212 |14 |23 |8 |10
May |17,137 |21,469 |8 |22 |5 |11
June |15,337 |19,103 |2 |18 |2 |6
July |16,639 |21,013 |3 |12 |0 |8
August |14,793 |18,588 |0 |5 |0 |2
September |15,272 |18,799 |1 |5 |2 |2
October |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
November |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
December |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
<1> Assigned to the 9th revision International Classification of diseases codes 778.3 and 991.6.
<2> 1991 figures are provisional.
NHS (Awards)
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what grounds he introduced an age limit on the payment of distinction and meritorious service awards to doctors and dentists within the national health service ; and if he will now reconsider his decision.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Awards made close to retirement age are not in the best interests of the service.
Trust Funds
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether health authorities, health trust executives and non-executive directors are required to comply with the Charities Acts and the Trustees Investment Acts when dealing with matters involving the authorities' charitable trust funds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : When undertaking their duties in respect of charitable trust funds held by the NHS, health service trustees need to comply with all appropriate legislation, including the Acts mentioned.
Hospital Trusts
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the increase in expenditure on computer hardware and software, management salaries and other costs in respect of each first wave trust hospital and its respective hospital authority in the year before trust status and the projected increase in these costs in the first year of operation of the hospital trust, showing the information by regional and district health authority and trust hospital ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) the Bradford hospitals NHS trust and (b) the Doncaster royal infirmary and Montagu NHS trust (i) the number of business plans published and (ii) to whom they were distributed and circulated.
Mr. Dorrell : The Department has not published any trust business plans for 1991-92. Trusts are free to decide for themselves whether to publish their plans. No central record is kept of whether they do. The Government have made it clear that trust business plans for 1992-93 and subsequent years will be published. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. R. Walker the chairman of the Bradford hospital NHS trust and Mr. C. Bryant the chairman of the Doncaster royal Infirmary and Montagu NHS trust, for details.
Care Homes, Manchester
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of private care or nursing homes in the Greater Manchester area who have had their registration cancelled under the Registered Homes Act 1984 during 1990 and 1991.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have been notified of one cancellation of registration for a residential care home.
Column 84
Mortality Statistics, Manchester
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the rates of perinatal mortality and infant mortality in the area health authorities in the Greater Manchester area in 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is shown in the table. The perinatal and infant mortality rate for 1991 is not yet available.
Perinatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for the district
health authorities within the
North Western regional health authority, 1989 and 1990
Area |Year |Perinatal|Infant
|mortality|mortality
|rate |rate
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Western regional |1989 |9.2 |9.1
health authority |1990 |8.9 |8.5
Lancaster district health |1989 |<1>8.3 |<1>7.7
authority |1990 |<1>7.7 |<1>11.0
Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde |1989 |7.4 |8.5
district health authority |1990 |8.3 |9.1
Preston district health |1989 |<1>8.9 |<1>8.0
authority |1990 |<1>3.3
Blackburn, Hyndburn and |1989 |8.4 |8.4
Ribble Valley district |1990 |7.9 |9.6
health authority
Burnley, Pendle and |1989 |10.1 |11.8
Rossendale district health1990 |15.3 |12.4
authority
West Lancashire district |1989 |13.9 |<1>9.1
health authority |1990 |<1>8.7
Chorley and South Ribble |1989 |<1>6.3 |11.2
district health authority |1990 |<1>5.2 |<1>4.2
Bolton district health |1989 |9.2 |9.5
authority |1990 |8.5 |7.0
Bury district health |198911.0 |10.7
authority |1990 |10.4 |7.7
North Manchester health |198911.1 |10.7
authority |1990 |12.0 |8.5
Central Manchester health |1989 |11.8 |12.9
authority |1990 |<1>8.8 |<1>8.9
South Manchester health |1989 |11.5 |11.2
authority |1990 |<1>6.6 |9.2
Oldham district health |1989 |7.4 |8.3
authority |1990 |12.7 |11.4
Rochdale district health |198910.1 |10.1
authority |1990 |8.4 |9.3
Salford district health |1989 |10.7 |8.1
authority1990 |9.6 |7.1
Stockport district health |19898.4 |6.3
authority |1990 |8.8 |8.8
Tameside and Glossop district |1989 |9.0 |7.5
health authority |1990 |7.1 |7.6
Trafford district health |1989 |7.5 |9.3
authority |1990 |8.3 |7.0
Wigan district health |1989 |7.7 |6.8
authority |1990 |8.7 |7.4
<1> Rate calculated from less than 20 events.
Perinatal rate:stillbirths and deaths under 1 week per 1,000 total live
and stillbirths.
Infant rate: deaths under 1 year per 1,000 livebirths.
Source: OPCS vital statistics 1989/1990.
Disabled People (Footwear)
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to revise MHM50 dealing with footwear for disabled people ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The revision of the MHM50 booklet is in the work programme for 1992.
Electoral Registration
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of electors in the 1992 provisional electoral register for each district and parliamentary constituency in England and Wales and the equivalent numbers on the 1991 register.
Mr. Dorrell : Numbers of people on draft electoral registers in England and Wales are not available centrally. The Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys sent out RPF29 inquiry forms asking local electoral registration officers (EROs) for information about the new 1992 registers on 16 January. EROs have been asked to make returns by 16 February--the date on which these registers come into use.
In Vitro Fertilisation
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement concerning the level of charges for licences to practice to be levied by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on small clinics which currently offer in vitro fertilisation to couples ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 17 July 1991 at column 194.
The fee structure is designed so that fees are based on the amount of treatment activity at a treatment centre. Smaller centres pay less than larger ones.
South Derbyshire
Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those capital schemes in southern Derbyshire district which have involved sums of over £1 million since 1979.
Mr. Dorrell : The information is as follows :
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Scheme |Completion date |Cost £ million<1> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby city hospital phase 1 |20 December 1985 |3.6 Derby royal infirmary phase 2 |2 October 1986 |3.7 Derby royal infirmary (kitchen and dining) |29 June 1987 |3.34 Ilkeston community hospital |16 April 1987 |3.8 <1> Capital works only; approved tender sum plus direct contracts (fees and equipment not included).
Radiation
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many claims against Exeter health authority relating to excessive doses of radiation have been made ; how many have been settled ; how many are outstanding ; when he expects these to be settled ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : A total of 106 claims have been made to date. Of these 79 have been settled, a further six are under negotiation and 21 remain outstanding. The 21 outstanding represent claims which have been notified but where medical evidence indicates there may be no basis for any payment or where the claim is not currently being pursued. The health authority sends regular quarterly reports to all local hon. Members on this matter. The most recent report was issued on 16 January.
Electors
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the total number of electors registered in each parliamentary constituency in England for 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 showing an aggregate for the country for each of those years ; and if he will list the percentage changes that have taken place in each case compared with the previous year's figures.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Asthmatics
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding free prescriptions for asthmatics.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : During the last 12 months, 36letters from hon. Members and 15 letters from members of the public have been received.
Child Health
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about progress towards implementing the proposals of the committee on child health services in 1976 (Cmnd. 6684).
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We continue to subscribe to the general principles of the Court report, particularly the emphasis it gave to the integration of child health services. This was a central theme of our guide on the welfare of children and young people in hospital, which will be developed further in the complementary guidance that we plan to issue on community child health services.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the effect of the internal market on cross-boundary flows for paediatric cases.
Column 87
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Contractual arrangements introduced by health authorities for children's services provide for the great majority of referrals. There have been few difficulties in arranging extra-contractual referrals.Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider making immunisation against certain diseases a precondition of children attending school.
Mr. Dorrell : No. We recommend that all children should be immunised against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and whooping cough by three doses of vaccine at age two, three and four months, and against measles, mumps and rubella by one dose at age 12 to 15 months. It is essential that these immunisations are completed at an early age to achieve the most effective levels of protection for the community. Under the present system that objective is being achieved. The latest estimates available show the following rates of immunisation nationally :
Diphteria, tetanus, polio--92 per cent. by 12 months of age Whooping cough- -88 per cent by 12 months of age
Measles, mumps, rubella--90 per cent. by 24 months of age
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for each district health authority, how many extra-contractual referrals for paediatric cases have been (a) made, (b) funded and (c) not been funded since the introduction of the internal market in April 1991 ;
(2) how many district health authorities have negotiated contracts for paediatric care outside their authority boundaries ; and if he will list them.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not collected centrally.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct all district health authorities to report annually on arrangements for child health service.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We monitor the quality of child health services--in the same way as other health services--through a continuous review of NHS authority preformance. In addition, the patients charter introduces a new right to information which will ensure health authorities and hospitals make available much more information about local services and performance, including child health services.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of Government circular, "The welfare of children and young people in hospital" HSG(91)1.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The guide has been very well received both within the national health service and among voluntary organisations and special interest groups concerned with the welfare of children. Last autumn the Royal College of Nursing held four regional conferences on implementation of the guidance in which the Department participated. It is already in general use as a reference document in the negotiation and agreement of contracts for child health services.
Column 88
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that parents throughout the United Kingdom possess a standardised health record for each of their children ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have supported the introduction nationally of a model parent-held child health record produced by a working party led by the British Paediatric Association. The Department will shortly be writing to all health authorities, family health services authorities and NHS trusts in England, commending the use of these records. We shall also be issuing guidance on how copies of the record can be obtained, together with notes on implementation.
The introduction of parent-held records in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.
Prescription Charges
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to introduce free prescriptions for asthmatics ; (2) if he will undertake to examine the feasibility of phasing out prescription charges on drugs used for potentially life-threatening complaints.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : There are no plans to extend the range of conditions which currently attract free prescriptions on medical grounds. There are already wide-ranging exemption arrangements, underpinned by the separate scheme for remission on the grounds of low income, which ensure that no one need be deterred from obtaining any necessary medication on financial grounds. Nearly 80 per cent. of NHS prescriptions items are currently dispensed free of charge.
Children's Needs
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities have set up liaison committees to consider the multiple needs of children across health, education and social services.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not collected centrally.
Mental Illness
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of mental illness admissions in each half-yearly period from 1987 to the most recent both nationally and in each standard health region ; and in each case what is the proportion of total admissions the figure represents.
Mr. Dorrell : Figures for admissions on a half yearly basis are not readily available. Final figures are not yet available but the table provides provisional estimates for admissions to NHS hospitals and hospital units in England for each financial year 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Column 89
Admissions (ordinary + day case) to NHS hospitals and hospital units in England by medical specialty of consultant
Health authority 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90
|M.I. |All |Per cent.|M.I. |All |Per cent.|M.I. |All |Per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern RHA |20,800 |546,950 |3.8 |15,250 |586,150 |2.6 |14,650 |601,000 |2.4
Yorkshire RHA |16,850 |655,600 |2.6 |16,650 |685,150 |2.4 |17,350 |703,000 |2.5
Trent RHA |14,100 |708,150 |2.0 |13,650 |752,800 |1.8 |14,650 |777,550 |1.9
East Anglia RHA |6,900 |320,450 |2.2 |6,950 |333,450 |2.1 |7,600 |354,850 |2.1
North West Thames RHA |13,200 |514,850 |2.6 |14,600 |531,250 |2.7 |14,000 |550,850 |2.5
North East Thames RHA |11,750 |654,650 |1.8 |14,750 |648,250 |2.3 |16,800 |689,500 |2.4
South East Thames RHA |13,650 |540,250 |2.5 |13,000 |614,900 |2.1 |14,900 |625,050 |2.4
South West Thames RHA |9,400 |413,250 |2.3 |10,750 |439,600 |2.4 |11,850 |451,950 |2.6
Wessex RHA |9,450 |419,850 |2.3 |11,850 |491,100 |2.4 |12,800 |590,650 |2.5
Oxford RHA |8,150 |339,250 |2.4 |7,550 |372,450 |2.0 |8,050 |387,850 |2.1
South Western RHA |15,900 |537,500 |3.0 |17,350 |577,150 |3.0 |17,350 |592,600 |2.9
West Midlands RHA |18,300 |898,900 |2.0 |17,950 |887,900 |2.0 |18,100 |922,400 |2.0
Mersey RHA |10,500 |454,350 |2.3 |10,150 |453,200 |2.2 |10,050 |476,250 |2.1
North Western RHA |17,600 |829,350 |2.1 |17,700 |841,050 |2.1 |18,750 |865,450 |2.2
Special HAs |1,950 |92,500 |2.1 |1,800 |111,100 |1.6 |1,650 |114,100 |1.4
|188,500 |7,925,650|2.4 |189,950 |8,325,500|2.3 |198,550 |8,622,050|2.3
Source: SMI2C-HES.A6A
Meningitis
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list notified cases of meningitis in Derbyshire for each of the past 10 years for which figures are available, together with details of notified cases over recent months ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is given in the table :
Year Number of cases
|All meningitis|Meningoccal
|Meningitis
------------------------------------------------------------
1981 |11 |4
1982 |15 |2
1983 |34 |22
1984 |16 |5
1985 |22 |13
1986 |42 |22
1987 |40 |17
1988 |35 |11
1989 |40 |19
1990 |41 |23
1991 |48 |21
Project 2000
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the allocation of college places on Project 2000 courses to enrolled nurses.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) referred to such a case in the House on 13 January at column 717, and I am inquiring into it. No other representations have been received. Project 2000 courses are designed for new entrants to nursing, not for people who already hold a nursing qualification.
Psychiatric Prisons
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has currently under consideration any plans to discharge any prisoner in a long-stay psychiatric prison into the care of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne social services department.
Mr. Dorrell : We are not aware of any such plans.
Column 90
EMPLOYMENT
Disabled Employees (Dismissals)
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled people have complained of dismissal contrary to section 9(5) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 since 1981 ; how many of these cases were referred to the committees for the employment of people with disabilities ; how many of these cases were then referred by those committees to him with a recommendation for action ; and of these referrals, in how many cases was action taken by him.
Mr. Jackson : The employment service's local disablement resettlement officers (DROs) receive a small number of complaints each year from registered disabled people who think that their dismissal may have been contrary to section 9(5) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. However, the precise number of complaints made since 1981 is not known. All complaints are investigated by my officials.
On three occasions since 1981 dismissals of registered disabled people, by employers not employing the 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people, have been referred to the local committee for the employment of people with disabilities for a report. The 1944 Act does not require the committees to make
recommendations in their reports to Ministers. Their reports are made in confidence for the use by Ministers in coming to a decision on appropriate action in each case.
There have been no prosecutions of employers in this period.
Health and Safety Executive Offshore Division
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspector grade staff have transferred into the Health and Safety Executive offshore division since 1 April 1991 from (a) other parts of the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Department of Energy and (c) the Department of Transport ; and in each case, how many were initially engaged in (i) policy and(ii) operational work.
Mr. Forth : The number of inspector grade staff who have transferred into the offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive on or after 1 April 1991 is as follows :
Column 91
Department |Number |Of whom |Of whom |Personnel and
|policy |operational |training
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Energy |<1>39 |nil |38 |1
Department of Transport |nil |nil |nil |nil
Other parts of Health and Safety Executive |25 |3 |21 |1
<1> One inspector has since retired.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applicants for inspector grade posts in the Health and Safety Executive's offshore division have been offered employment since 1 April 1991 ; and how many of these (a) are now in post and (b) have refused employment.
Mr. Forth : Since 1 April 1991, 39 applicants have had formal offers of appointment and 19 of them are now in post. A further 16 applicants are either negotiating a suitable starting date or are to respond to offers of employment. Four applicants have refused offers of employment.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspector grade posts in the Health and Safety Executive's offshore division remain unfilled ; and what is the planned time scale for these posts to be filled.
Mr. Forth : It is the intention of the Health and Safety Executive to increase the number of inspector grade posts to 122 by 1 April 1992. On 15 January 1992 there were 82 staff already in post, and 40 unfilled posts. There are, in addition, six successful candidates from the first two recruitment campaigns due to join in the next month or so and 37 who are still being processed. While they may not all be in post by 1 April 1992, the target should be achieved shortly afterwards.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspector grade posts are planned for the Health and Safety Executive's offshore division for the years ending 31 March 1992, 1993 and 1994 ; and how many were planned for the year ended 31 March 1991.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive's offshore safety division currently plans to have 122 inspector grade posts by 1 April 1992.
Further expansion by about 50 posts is currently being planned for 1 April 1993, details of which will be contained in the Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1992-93, due to be published in the spring. At present, the increase anticipated for 1 April 1994 will take the numbers to around 200 inspectors.
Planning for the year ending 31 March 1991 was the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. There were, however, 39 inspector posts in the Department of Energy's petroleum engineering division when it was transferred to the Health and Safety Executive.
Training Credits
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out, by the relevant training and enterprise council, the overall number of training credits available, and the take-up at the latest available date.
Mr. Jackson : As at 8 December 1991, 31,506 training credits has been issued within the 11 pilot schemes ; 15,672
Column 92
of these have already been used by young people to obtain high quality training of their choice. This number continues to rise. The table shows the figures set out by pilot areas :
Starts-at 8 December 1991
TEC/lec |Credits|Starts
|issued
------------------------------------------------
Birmingham |3,387 |2,565
Bradford |3,159 |2,105
Devon and Cornwall |7,193 |4,579
Grampian |5,168 |<1>941
Hertfordshire |3,086 |672
Kent |541 |172
North East Wales |463 |226
Northumberland |1,189 |1,292
South and East Cheshire |4,134 |981
SOLOTEC |795 |650
Suffolk |2,391 |1,489
|-------|-------
Total |31,506 |15,672
<1>These figures represent credits issued and
starts at 30 November 1991. This is due to
different accounting periods for Scottish
Enterprise.
National Vocational Qualifications
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has made any evaluation of the method of assessment used in the national vocational qualification system ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Since 1986, the Employment Department has been continually developing and evaluating methods of assessment for NVQs. Key areas investigated have been performance in the work place, skills/proficiency testing, assessment of knowledge and understanding, and accreditation of prior learning.
Radiological Emergencies
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) 27 November 1991, Official Report, columns 557-58, he will set out the reasons why EC directive 89/618/EURATOM was not transposed into United Kingdom law by the required date of 28 November 1991.
Mr. Forth : The implementation period of two years is shorter than that for other Euratom directives. Implementation was not assisted by the publication of guidance for member states on implementing the principal articles of the directive only eight months before the implementation date.
I am advised from the European Commission that the UK are not alone in the late implementation of this directive. Nevertheless, progress on implementation continues. The Health and Safety Commission has published for consultation draft proposals to implement the directive. Regulations will be made as soon as
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comments have been considered and the proposals have been scrutinised by the European Commission. Article 30 of the Euratom treaty requires a three-month consultation period to allow the European Commission time to comment on the UK's finalised implementation proposals.Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for the implementation of European Council directive 89/618/EURATOM in relation to informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied, and safety steps to be taken, in the event of a radiological emergency.
Mr. Forth : I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer given in reply to the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 13 January 1992, at column 457.
Wakefield TEC
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the current membership of the board of Wakefield training and enterprise council meets the criteria set out in the original TEC prospectus.
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