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Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the total numbers of patients removed from waiting lists for reasons other than admission in the six months ended September 1991 ;
(2) what were the numbers of patients admitted from the waiting lists in the six months ended September 1991.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Provisional figures for September 1991, which are based on 90 per cent. of expected returns, show that admissions from waiting lists increased from 1,384,900 to 1,390,300 (0.4 per cent.) in the six months since March 1991.
Removals from waiting lists for reasons other than admission fell from 168,918 to 165,200 (2 per cent.) in the same period.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals were used in the survey of patients' attitudes for the information given in his press release of14 January on NHS trusts ; and what was the sample size of the survey.
Mr. Dorrell : The survey was carried out amongst 901 patients at the following trust hospitals :
Newcastle Mental Health NHS trust
Hillingdon Hospital NHS trust
Southend Healthcare NHS trust
The Guy's and Lewisham NHS trust
The West Dorset General Hospitals NHS trust
Taunton and Somerset NHS trust
Walsall Hospitals NHS trust
Manchester Central Hospitals and Community Care NHS trust
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Dementia
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly patients suffering from dementia have been taken in the past year from hospitals in London to private nursing homes in the North and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, thus transferring the costs of caring for them from hospitals to the Department of Social Security ; what consultation his Department has had with the Royal College of Psychiatrists about the effects of this for the patients concerned ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The data held centrally do not record the geographical location of patients on discharge.
It has been made clear to health authorities in health circular HC(89)5 that patients should not be discharged until proper arrangements have been made for any continuing care which may be necessary.
In addition, circular HC(90)23/LASSL(90)11 provides that no mentally ill patient should be discharged without an agreed care programme which ensures that their needs for continuing health and social care and for accommodation are assessed and that appropriate arrangements are made. Care programmes must include the nomination of a key worker to keep in close touch with the patient and monitor the provision of the agreed package of health and social care. If appropriate care in the community cannot be arranged, then the patient must be offered in-patient care. Copies of both circulars are available in the Library.
Officials of the Department have regular contact with the Royal College of Psychiatrists' section of old age psychiatry. In November last year the Department supported a one-day conference on long-term care held by the royal college.
Child Health
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to reduce inequalities in child health.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 20 January 1992] : The Government's approach to variations in the health of children and other groups was set in paragraphs 4.15 and 4.16 of the "The Health of the Nation" (Cm. 1523), a copy of which is in the Library. In particular, the Government have, as there explained, sought to tackle specific issues which can be targeted for effective action. Examples in the field of child health include guidance on children's needs for hospital services (already issued) and for community services (in preparation), improvements to record levels in the rates of immunisation to reduce death and disability from preventable diseases, increased participation by GPs in child health surveillance and increased emphasis on investigating the causes of perinatal deaths. In making such changes the Government will continue to make the best use possible of the improved systems now available for the delivery of health care, including the contractual arrangements with GPs and between purchasers and providers, and the new
responsibilities of health authorities for assessing the health and health care needs of their local population and for the better integration of family, community and hospital services.
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future role of (a) general practitioners, (b) health visitors, (c) nurses
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and (d) clinical medical officers and senior clinical medical officers in the development of child health services.Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 20 January 1992] : In addition to general health services such as immunisation programmes, a key aspect of the development of child health services is the provision of child health surveillance. An important change, since the introduction in April 1990 of the new GP contract, has been the increase, to over 50 per cent., in the number of GPs now undertaking primary child health surveillance of children under five. As a consequence we are, with NHS management and the professions, taking steps to ensure that the respective duties of doctors, health visitors and nurses in the community child health services are reviewed and updated. Health authorities are being issued with a core programme for child health surveillance prepared by the professions. A joint working party, with the conference of (medical) royal colleges and the British Medical Association, is also considering the integration of medical staff careers in the hospital and community child health services.
DEFENCE
Plutonium
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any contracts with the Atomic Energy Authority for research into the fabrication of weapons' components using plutonium ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There are no such contracts.
Building 220, Harwell
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the recent refurbishment of building 220 at Harwell is related to any contract which has been placed with the Atomic Energy Authority.
Secrets of the Sands"
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his Departmental Library a copy of the transcript and videocassette of the BBC 2 nature programme "Secrets of the Sands" on the United Kingdom nuclear test site at Maralinga in Australia, broadcast on 28 October.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : My Department has a copy of this programme.
Rescue Helicopters
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received for an increase in the number of rescue helicopters based at RAF Chivenor.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : Since 1 October 1989, when search and rescue cover at RAF Chivenor was reduced to daylight hours only, my Department has received one such representation.
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the rescue helicopters at RAF Chivenor were (a) called out and (b) called to locations in Somerset in each of the last four years for which figures are available.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information is given in the table :
Year |Number of |Number of
|Callouts |Callouts to
|locations in
|Somerset
----------------------------------------------------
1988 |188 |4
1989 |189 |7
1990 |157 |5
1991 |149 |13
Marine Markers
Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about his Department's recent removal of the seaward marker of the western limit of the measured mile at Spithead, from Browndown, Gosport.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Three representations have been received from commercial shipbuilders in the area.
Spithead Marker
Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take any necessary action to restore a seaward marker for the western limit of the measured mile at Spithead, to replace the marker recently removed by the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Royal Navy no longer has a requirement for the measured mile at Spithead and one of the western markers was removed to make way for the erection of an aerial farm on the same site. There are no plans to replace the marker. Other measured mile facilities are available around the coast.
Nuclear Reactors (Decommissioning)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what will be the expected cost to his Department of the eventual
decommissioning of the Calder Hall and Chapelcross reactors ; (2) if he will make a statement about the expected lifespan of the Calder Hall and Chapelcross magnox reactors.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The expected lifespan of the reactors at Calder hall and Chapelcross is a matter for British Nuclear Fuels Limited and the nuclear installations inspectorate. British Nuclear Fuels Limited has responsibility for assessing the costs of decommissioning these reactors. MOD's share of the costs will be influenced by a number of factors that cannot be accurately determined at this time.
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Hafnium
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's use of the element hafnium.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Hafnium is a constituent of alloys used in engines for both civil and military aircraft as well as certain other classified applications.
Nuclear Weapons Safety Review
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current procedure for reporting the recommendations of the nuclear weapons safety review ;
(2) what have been the 10 most recent recommendations of the nuclear weapons safety review ; on what dates they were recommended ; and what action has been taken to implement them.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 January at column 20.
Civilian Employees
Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current total of his Department's civilian employees and the percentage based in Scotland, together with cost of employment for the relevant figures.
Mr. Alan Clark : On 1 October 1991, my Department employed a total of 140,697 United Kingdom-based civilians and a further 27,588 locally engaged civilians overseas. The estimated total cost of employment of civilian staff in 1991-92 is £2,849 million. Approximately 8.6 per cent. of the United Kingdom-based civilians are employed in Scotland. The estimated cost of civilian employment in Scotland is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Kirkcudbright Range
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiry has been carried out into alleged irregularities at the Kirkcudbright range ; what was the outcome of the inquiry ; what action he has taken as a result ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A number of allegations were made in August last year by TGWU representative concerning misuse of official property and labour at the Kirkcudbright range, which is part of the military division of the Defence Research Agency. The allegations were investigated by the Ministry of Defence police who concluded that there were no grounds for proceeding with criminal charges against the individuals concerned. It was evident, however, that there were a number of management deficiencies that should be rectified. This is now in hand. The managing director of the division has taken the necessary managerial action to ensure that such deficiencies will not recur.
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Forces Benevolent Funds
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will request the service benevolent funds to report to him on the use they have made of funds donated to the Gulf trust that were passed to them ; and if he will place copies of the reports in the Library ; (2) how much money donated to the Gulf trust by the public was allocated by him to each of the service benevolent funds.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The service benevolent funds are meeting claims arising from the Gulf conflict by payments made to them from the Gulf trust fund ; so far, over £600,000 has been distributed. Final allocations to the service benevolent funds of moneys donated to the Gulf trust will take place when the Gulf trust is formally wound up ; this is planned for February 1993. It is not the practice for the service benevolent funds to release details of how they have dealt with individual cases.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to lessen the difference in levels of payment from Government Departments and the forces benevolent funds received by members of the forces who sustain similar injuries whilst serving in (a) the Falklands war, (b) the Gulf war and (c) in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. Particular account was taken of the experience of operating the South Atlantic fund when establishing the Gulf trust. The main aim was to provide for the long-term relief of the physical and mental distress and financial needs of those who suffered as a result of the Gulf conflict, and we are satisfied that the Gulf trust, working through the service benevolent funds, provides the best and most effective way of meeting that aim.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions were laid down by him for the use of Gulf trust money by the service benevolent funds ; and if the money can be paid to anyone other than members of the forces who participated in the Gulf war or their families.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The deed of trust for the Gulf trust prescribes that moneys must be used to meet the financial needs of the beneficiaries and for the relief of sickness, distress or any other physical or mental disability, arising from the involvement of the Armed Forces in military and other operations relating to or in connection with the Gulf conflict. Potential beneficiaries are limited to members of the Armed Forces involved in the Gulf conflict ; civilian personnel attached to or accompanying the Armed Forces in the Gulf conflict ; and their respective dependants.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints he has received from members of the forces who served in the Gulf, their families or their representatives, regarding the distribution of money given by the public to the Gulf trust ; and what was the nature of the complaints.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A small number of representations has been made to the Department about the use of Gulf trust money. It would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases.
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Faslane Submarine Base
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many methods are available of achieving the same effect as that being worked on in the abandoned magnetic treatment facility project, Faslane ; and what estimate has been made of the cost of adapting these alternatives to the enhanced specifications currently derived for submarines.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Following the decision not to proceed with the magnetic treatment facility, work is currently under way to examine alternative means of achieving the effective magnetic treatment of submarines. Firm cost estimates have not yet been made but we expect costs to be significantly less than for the original project.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) of 20 December, Official Report, column 387 , on the magnetic treatment facility project, when it was abandoned ; and what percentage of the original budget for the magnetic treatment facility, Faslane, the sum spent represented.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The decision not to proceed with the magnetic treatment facility project was reached in June 1991. Expenditure at the time of cancellation represented 23 per cent. of the original cost estimate.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate was made of the cost effectiveness and likely completion of the magnetic treatment facility project, Faslane, before giving it his approval.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : As with all Ministry of Defence equipment projects, the cost effectiveness of the proposed magnetic treatment facility project was subject to careful examination in the light of all the available evidence before it was approved. The project was judged to represent good value for money at the original cost estimate to meet the operational requirement for the rapid and efficient magnetic treatment of submarines. The project was to be completed in the mid-1990s.
MV Polar Circle
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long is the lease taken out on the MV Polar Circle ; if it remains his policy to retain a naval vessel in Falklands waters beyond April 1992 ; and if he will consider renaming MV Polar Circle, HMS Endurance for the duration of its lease.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Pursuant to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea on 8 November at column 295, the Government are to purchase HMS Polar Circle as the permanent replacement of HMS Endurance as the Antarctic ice patrol ship. Polar Circle will return to home waters in May on completion of this season's patrol. She will remain Polar Circle for the rest of her current deployment. Her permanent name can now be considered, and it is intended that the Admiralty Board will reach a decision by the time she returns to the United Kingdom.
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Woolwich Garrison
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to answer the letter sent to him by the chair of the public protection committee of Greenwich council regarding radioactive contamination discovered at the Woolwich garrison.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : My Department replied earlier this week.
Defence Export Services Organisation
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what happened to the Kuwait office of the Defence Export Services Organisation during the Iraqi occupation of that country ; and what is the current position.
Mr. Alan Clark : The First Secretary (Defence Supply) is the Defence Export Services Organisation representative in the British embassy in Kuwait. He was out of the country on leave when the Iraqi invasion took place and returned in April 1991.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the overseas offices of the Defence Export Services Organisation, together with the dates they were set up.
Mr. Alan Clark : The Defence Export Services Organisation has established overseas offices as follows :
|Year
-----------------------
Washington |1972
New Delhi |1984
Riyadh |1984
Kuala Lumpur |1986
Seoul |1988
Ankara |1988
Kuwait |1988
Canberra |1989
Jakarta |1991
Bangkok |1991
Menwith Hill Station
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the police post at Menwith Hill station in North Yorkshire was built and at what total cost ; on which budget the expenditure was shown ; and what agencies in the United Kingdom or overseas contributed to the costs of construction.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.
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Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the land on which Menwith Hill station is located ; who has the power to evict and charge persons entering the station and surrounding land ; and whether any part of the land is leased.Mr. Archie Hamilton : The land on which Menwith Hill station is located is owned by the Secretary of State for Defence, in right of the Crown. Those authorised by the Secretary of State, as the landowner, are entitled to remove trespassers from Menwith Hill station. Local farmers are licensed to make use of parts of the site under the Agricultural Holding Acts.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons those who trespass at Menwith Hill
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station have been evicted for civil trespass rather than arrested under byelaw 2(b) of the Forest Moor and Menwith Hill byelaws ; what plans he has to seek injunctions, similar to that served on Ms. Lindis Percy, to be served on others ; and what plans he has for legislation to replace the byelaws.Mr. Archie Hamilton : Whilst we consider that the HMS Forest Moor and Menwith Hill station byelaws remain valid, it is at present Crown prosecution service policy not to prosecute under these byelaws. Improvements to the byelaws are currently under review. Further injunctions against other persistent trespassers are under consideration.
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