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Crop Plantings
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the percentage of United Kingdom plantings of winter wheat, spring wheat, spring barley, winter barley, oats, rye, sugar beet, potatoes and oilseed rape of (a) the most popular variety, (b) the two most popular varieties and (c) the three most popular varieties ; if he will name the varieties ; and whether the percentages of plantings to the top three varieties covers a greater or lesser proportion of total plantings to that crop than was the case 10 years ago.
Mr. Curry : Although actual planting by variety is not recorded for cereals and oilseed rape, the tables show figures based upon information collected under certified seed production records. The use of seed retained on the farm outside this system is not recorded.
For potatoes, the three most popular varieties of potatoes planted in 1992 in the United Kingdom were Maris Piper (12 per cent.) ; Record (10 per cent.) and Estima (9 per cent.) accounting in total for 31 per cent. of the crop, compared with 1982 when they were Maris Piper (17 per cent.), Desiree (14 per cent.) and Record (8 per cent.), accounting in total for 39 per cent. of the crop.
United Kingdom certified seed for commercial crop production for harvest in 1992 Per cent. of volume The most popular |Name |Per cent. accounted variety |for -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter wheat |Riband |22 Spring wheat |Axona |38 Spring barley |Blenheim |21 Winter barley |Marinka |21 Oats |Image |43 Rye |Halo |25 Sugar beet<2> |Celt |24 Oilseed rape |Falcon |22
Per cent. of volume The two most popular |Names |Per cent. accounted varieties |for ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Winter wheat |Riband, Beaver |38 Spring wheat |Axona, Tonic |72 Spring barley |Blenheim, Alexis |39 Winter barley |Marinka, Puffin |40 Oats |Image, Solva |60 Rye |Halo, Sentinel |45 Sugar beet<2> |Celt, Saxon |44 Oilseed rape |Falcon, Envol |42
Per cent. of volume The three most |Names |Per cent. popular varieties |<1>accounted for -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter wheat |Riband, Beaver, Haven |51 Spring wheat |Axona, Tonic, Canon |86 Spring barley |Blenheim, Alexis, Tyne |51 Winter barley |Marinka, Puffin, Pastoral|53 Oats |Image, Solva, Aintree |77 Rye |Halo, Sentinel, Conrah |56 Sugar beet<2> |Celt, Saxon, Rex |61 Oilseed rape |Falcon, Envol, Libravo |55
United Kingdom certified seed for commercial crop production for harvest in 1982 Per cent of volume The most popular |Name |Per cent. accounted variety |for -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter wheat |Avalon |20 Spring wheat |Timmo |49 Spring barley |Triumph |24 Winter barley |Igri |49 Oats |Peniarth |61 Rye |Rheidol |53 Sugar beet<2> |Monoire |25 Oilseed rape |Jet Neuf |72
Per cent of volume The most popular |Name |Per cent. accounted variety |for ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Winter wheat |Avalon, Bounty |38 Spring wheat |Timmo, Broom |93 Spring barley |Triumph, Golden Promise|44 Winter barley |Igri, Sonja |83 Oats |Peniarth, Pennal |98 Rye |Rheidol, Lovaszpatoinai|64 Sugar beet<2> |Monoire, Nomo |45 Oilseed rape |Jet Neuf, Rafal |89
Per cent of volume The most popular |Name |Per cent. accounted variety |for ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Winter wheat |Avalon, Bounty, Brigand |49 Spring wheat |Timmo, Broom, Sicco |98 Spring barley |Triumph, Golden Promise, Koru |54 Winter barley |Igri, Sonja, Maris Otter |94 Oats |Peniarth, Pennal, Maris Quest |100 Rye |Rheidol, Lovaszpatonai, Dominant |74 Sugar beet<2> |Monoire, Nomo, Monotri and Salohill|69 Oilseed rape |Jet Neuf, Rafal, Elvira |95 <1> Apart from winter wheat, these percent figures are all less than for 1982. <2> The information for sugar beet relates to actual commercial plantings in 1992 and 1982.
Veal Calves (Transport)
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for how long veal calves transported from the United Kingdom may be sealed in transporters ; what length of time United Kingdom regulations allow for animal transport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : Currently calves for export are not sealed in transporters. Regulations in Great Britain require farm animals to be offered food and water at intervals not exceeding 12 hours, unless the journey can be completed within 15 hours. For export journeys over 18 hours, a licence to export is issued when the exporter has made arrangements to feed and water the animals at suitable intervals.
SCOTLAND
Land Transactions
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he is taking to prevent the speculative sale of Scottish land to owners and developers furth of Scotland ;
(2) what record is being maintained of private land transactions in Scotland in which ownership of land is transferred furth of Scotland ;
(3) what estimate has been made of land in Scotland currently owned by (a) Germans (b) Americans and (c) Belgians ; and if he envisages a limit being placed on foreign ownership of Scottish land.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No specific record is maintained for the purpose of identifying the nationality of the owners of land in Scotland. General information on land transactions is, however, available from the Registers of Scotland executive agency. We have no plans to impose restrictions on the market for land. In a free society, sellers must be allowed to dispose of their possessions as they think best.
Expenditure
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a percentage figure for the present financial year equivalent to the figure of 10.66 per cent. stated as applying from 1993 for the public expenditure change formula based on the 1991 census population count results, as indicated in his press notice of 12 November.
Mr. Lang : The equivalent percentage figure applied to the current financial year in the 1991 public expenditure survey was 11.76 per cent.
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Private Detectives
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what use his Department has made of private detectives in each of the last five years ; at what cost ; and if he will list the firms involved.
Ozone Depletion
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within his Department's buildings in the past five years.
Competitive Tendering
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish the results of his Department's research evaluating the effect of compulsory competitive tendering on Scottish local authorities.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend has today published the report "Evaluation of Compulsory Competitive Tendering for Scottish Local Authority Services". The research examined a selection of case study services in a small sample of local authorities to determine the costs and results of providing certain services before and after CCT. The report identifies a number of savings and increased efficiency in the provision of these services after tendering.
Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the number of awards of sequestration for each of the five years immediately following commencement of operation of the provision of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill, as amended ; and whether he will take steps to ensure that access to the sequestration process is not restricted.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 17 November 1992] : The number of awards of sequestration in future years will be subject to a wide variety of factors, including the response of debtors and creditors to the legislation currently before Parliament. It is not, therefore, yet possible to estimate accurately the number of awards for the period requested.
The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill already provides for access to sequestration in appropriate circumstances, subject to certain necessary safeguards to balance the interests of debtors and creditors.
Courts
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the courts which (a) have undergone renovation in the past four years and (b) are being refurbished at this moment ; if he will give the cost of such work ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 17 November 1992] : The information requested is as follows :
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(a) Major Projects Completed 1989-92 (inclusive) Project |Completion |Cost £ million ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forfar Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |1989 |0.10 Falkirk Sheriff Court, New building |1990 |6.3 Arbroath Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |1991 |0.55 Fort William Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |1991 |0.15 Hamilton Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |1991 |7.00 Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |1992 |9.0 Lochmaddy Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |1992 |0.25 Parliament House: Extension, New building |1992 |14.0
(b) Major Projects Under Construction
|Estimated Final Cost
|£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alloa Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |0.13
Dumfries Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |2.70
Edinburgh Sheriff Court, New building |51.40
Greenock Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |4.30
Lanark Sheriff Court, Refurbishment |0.15
Vulnerable Witnesses
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the courts which have live closed-circuit television links and associated equipment for the purpose of taking evidence from those deemed to be vulnerable witnesses ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 17 November 1992] : Facilities for closed circuit television links for child witnesses have been provided on a pilot basis at the High Court in Edinburgh and Glasgow and at Edinburgh and Glasgow sheriff courts. Extension to other court houses will be considered in the light of experience of use of the system in the pilot courts.
Open Air Events
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current powers for local councils or the police to prevent open air events taking place on private land if there is a reason to expect that they will lead to disturbance.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 18 November 1992] : District and island councils may licence public entertainments under section 41 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, provided that the local authority has previously resolved to license the particular activity in question. Where an unlicensed activity takes place in an area subject to licensing controls, the organiser is liable on conviction to an exceptionally high summary fine of up to £20,000 or up to six months imprisonment or both. If alcoholic liquor were to be sold at such an event, a liquor licence would be required under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976. A local authority could prevent such an event taking place by refusal to grant a licence or the suspension of an existing licence under either the 1976 or the 1982 Acts.
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Quayle Munro
Mr. Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Scottish Office paid the firm of Quayle Munro for its report on the future of the Scottish water industry.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 26 October 1992] : I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) on 26 October, at columns 530-31 .
HEALTH
Patients Charter
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the results of the first quarter monitoring of the patients charter ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : Health authorities, as purchasers of services, are required to publish annual reports giving
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details of the performance against all relevant patients charter rights and standards achieved by their providers. The national health service management executive will give an overview on performance in the chief executive's annual report for 1992-93.Personal Social Services
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the (a) actual and (b) percentage difference between the social services budget estimate and standard spending assessment in 1991-92 for each social services in England ;
(2) what was the percentage difference between the personal social services budget estimate and standard spending estimate (a) in 1991-92 and (b) in 1992-93 for each social services authority in England ;
(3) what is the personal social services standard spending assessment for each social services authority in england in 1992-93.
Mr. Yeo : The information requested is as follows :
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Spending on personal social services
Local Authority |Budget |PSS SSA |Difference |Difference |Budget |PSS SSA |Difference |Difference
|1991-92 |1991-92 |£ million |Per cent. |1992-93 |1992-93 |£ million |Per cent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolton |25.2 |24.1 |1.1 |4.6 |27.4 |26.1 |1.4 |5.1
Bury |15.3 |13.3 |2.0 |15.0 |15.5 |14.4 |1.1 |7.8
Manchester |66.3 |71.9 |-5.6 |-7.8 |64.6 |76.8 |-12.2 |-15.8
Oldham |22.3 |22.0 |0.3 |1.4 |24.7 |23.3 |1.4 |6.2
Rochdale |24.8 |21.1 |3.7 |17.5 |23.7 |21.8 |1.88 |8.6
Salford |27.1 |28.0 |-0.9 |-3.2 |30.1 |30.3 |-0.2 |-0.7
Stockport |24.4 |22.7 |1.7 |7.5 |27.4 |23.9 |3.5 |14.5
Tameside |23.2 |20.4 |2.8 |13.7 |23.1 |20.5 |2.6 |12.8
Trafford |17.7 |18.3 |-0.6 |-3.3 |19.3 |19.8 |-0.5 |-2.6
Wigan |24.0 |22.9 |1.1 |4.8 |25.9 |24.4 |1.5 |6.3
Knowsley |14.8 |20.7 |-5.9 |-28.5 |16.1 |22.3 |-6.2 |-28.0
Liverpool |64.0 |70.9 |-6.9 |-9.7 |74.9 |75.6 |-0.7 |-1.0
St. Helens |19.5 |15.1 |4.4 |29.1 |22.1 |15.9 |6.2 |38.9
Sefton |25.0 |24.4 |0.6 |2.5 |27.6 |25.9 |1.7 |6.6
Wirral |30.8 |33.1 |-2.3 |-6.9 |34.6 |34.7 |-0.1 |-0.1
Barnsley |16.1 |17.7 |-1.6 |-9.0 |18.7 |18.9 |-0.2 |-1.1
Doncaster |21.9 |22.9 |-1.0 |-4.4 |24.2 |25.6 |-1.4 |-5.3
Rotherham |23.7 |20.4 |3.3 |16.2 |25.2 |21.8 |3.4 |15.6
Sheffield |60.5 |54.6 |5.9 |10.8 |65.8 |57.7 |8.1 |14.0
Gateshead |22.4 |20.7 |1.7 |8.2 |24.5 |21.8 |2.7 |12.3
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |36.9 |33.5 |3.4 |10.1 |37.7 |34.7 |3.0 |8.5
North Tyneside |22.8 |18.6 |4.2 |22.6 |24.5 |20.1 |4.4 |22.1
South Tyneside |16.6 |17.4 |-0.8 |-4.6 |17.5 |18.1 |-0.6 |-3.3
Sunderland |27.6 |27.1 |0.5 |1.8 |30.9 |28.5 |2.4 |8.4
Birmingham |127.6 |124.9 |2.7 |2.2 |137.6 |131.2 |6.4 |4.9
Coventry |34.4 |31.5 |2.9 |9.2 |37.7 |32.8 |4.9 |15.1
Dudley |22.2 |20.9 |1.3 |6.2 |24.2 |22.5 |1.7 |7.7
Sandwell |36.0 |32.7 |3.3 |10.1 |38.3 |34.4 |3.9 |11.3
Solihull |17.3 |14.3 |3.0 |21.0 |18.1 |15.6 |2.5 |16.2
Walsall |21.6 |21.8 |-0.2 |-0.9 |23.0 |23.2 |-0.2 |-1.0
Wolverhampton |30.7 |29.1 |1.6 |5.5 |32.5 |30.4 |2.1 |6.8
Bradford |50.0 |49.9 |0.1 |0.2 |54.7 |52.5 |2.2 |4.2
Calderdale |21.0 |18.4 |2.6 |14.1 |22.3 |20.2 |2.1 |10.6
Kirklees |32.3 |34.2 |-1.9 |-5.6 |36.0 |36.9 |-0.9 |-2.4
Leeds |82.1 |71.6 |10.5 |14.7 |84.1 |76.2 |7.9 |10.4
Wakefield |27.8 |24.3 |3.5 |14.4 |29.3 |26.2 |3.1 |11.7
Camden |48.0 |41.6 |6.4 |15.4 |45.3 |44.0 |1.3 |3.0
Greenwich |40.6 |32.2 |8.4 |26.1 |45.1 |34.6 |10.5 |30.3
Hackney |53.3 |55.5 |-2.2 |-4.0 |57.7 |59.3 |-1.6 |-2.7
Hammersmith and Fulham |36.9 |38.9 |-2.0 |-5.1 |38.2 |41.2 |-3.0 |-7.3
Islington |41.9 |43.0 |-1.1 |-2.6 |48.9 |46.7 |2.2 |4.7
Kensington and Chelsea |30.1 |30.2 |-0.1 |-0.3 |33.0 |32.3 |0.7 |2.3
Lambeth |72.4 |71.2 |1.2 |1.7 |79.2 |75.9 |3.3 |4.4
Lewisham |47.2 |43.8 |3.4 |7.8 |47.5 |47.5 |0.0 |0.0
Southwark |44.4 |51.0 |-6.6 |-12.9 |55.7 |56.3 |-0.6 |-1.0
Tower Hamlets |31.4 |41.0 |-9.6 |-23.4 |39.3 |44.7 |-5.4 |-12.2
Wandsworth |57.7 |54.9 |2.8 |5.1 |60.7 |58.7 |2.0 |3.4
Westminster |50.3 |43.1 |7.2 |16.7 |57.9 |46.1 |11.8 |25.5
City of London |3.295 |0.5 |2.8 |559.0 |3.3 |0.5 |2.8 |566.0
Barking and Dagenham |19.5 |18.3 |1.2 |6.6 |20.2 |20.0 |0.2 |1.1
Barnet |32.6 |29.2 |3.4 |11.6 |36.6 |31.6 |5.0 |15.7
Bexley |18.5 |16.7 |1.8 |10.8 |20.4 |17.8 |2.6 |14.6
Brent |47.3 |42.5 |4.8 |11.3 |45.5 |45.6 |-0.1 |-0.2
Bromley |23.4 |25.6 |-2.2 |-8.6 |25.7 |27.1 |-1.4 |-5.2
Croydon |37.9 |34.0 |3.9 |11.5 |40.8 |36.6 |4.2 |11.6
Ealing |38.7 |37.7 |1.0 |2.7 |39.2 |40.8 |-1.6 |4.0
Enfield |30.3 |26.7 |3.6 |13.5 |32.1 |28.7 |3.4 |11.9
Haringey |33.8 |40.4 |-6.6 |-16.3 |36.6 |44.5 |-7.9 |-17.8
Harrow |20.5 |16.0 |4.5 |28.1 |21.5 |17.3 |4.2 |24.2
Havering |21.0 |17.2 |3.8 |22.1 |24.9 |18.5 |6.4 |34.4
Hillingdon |25.5 |20.3 |5.2 |25.6 |28.3 |21.5 |6.8 |31.7
Hounslow |30.8 |23.0 |7.8 |33.9 |33.5 |25.2 |8.3 |33.1
Kingston-upon-Thames |16.1 |13.0 |3.1 |23.8 |17.5 |13.9 |3.6 |25.7
Merton |20.9 |18.6 |2.3 |12.4 |21.2 |20.3 |0.9 |4.6
Newham |39.9 |38.9 |1.0 |2.6 |44.9 |41.8 |3.1 |7.5
Redbridge |24.1 |21.7 |2.4 |11.1 |24.6 |23.9 |0.7 |3.1
Richmond-upon-Thames |17.8 |17.1 |0.7 |4.1 |17.5 |18.6 |-1.1 |-5.7
Sutton |17.6 |15.3 |2.3 |15.0 |18.4 |16.4 |2.0 |12.0
Waltham Forest |37.2 |33.2 |4.0 |12.0 |40.5 |35.5 |5.0 |14.0
Avon |83.6 |76.4 |7.2 |9.4 |92.8 |81.5 |11.3 |13.9
Bedfordshire |42.2 |38.7 |3.5 |9.1 |44.6 |41.6 |3.0 |7.2
Berkshire |60.6 |51.8 |8.8 |16.9 |68.1 |55.7 |12.4 |22.2
Buckinghamshire |49.2 |39.9 |9.3 |23.3 |52.4 |43.1 |9.3 |21.6
Cambridgeshire |50.7 |44.6 |6.1 |13.7 |53.6 |48.1 |5.5 |11.3
Cheshire |73.3 |65.9 |7.4 |11.2 |77.7 |70.3 |7.4 |10.5
Cleveland |53.3 |52.4 |0.9 |1.7 |57.8 |55.3 |2.5 |4.5
Cornwall |33.0 |33.4 |-0.447 |-1.3 |34.8 |36.1 |-1.3 |-3.6
Cumbria |36.9 |37.4 |-0.5 |-1.3 |40.5 |39.7 |0.8 |2.0
Derbyshire |86.5 |68.4 |18.1 |26.5 |89.1 |72.9 |16.2 |22.3
Devon |70.0 |79.1 |-9.1 |-11.5 |78.9 |84.7 |-5.8 |-6.8
Dorset |39.7 |53.5 |-13.8 |-25.8 |42.3 |57.4 |-15.1 |-26.2
Durham |42.5 |50.9 |-8.4 |-16.5 |45.8 |53.3 |-7.5 |-14.2
East Sussex |59.0 |69.2 |-10.2 |-14.7 |67.1 |73.3 |-6.2 |-8.4
Essex |112.8 |111.2 |1.6 |1.4 |123.4 |120.8 |2.6 |2.2
Gloucestershire |34.5 |38.7 |-4.2 |-10.9 |38.7 |42.1 |-3.4 |-8.2
Hampshire |90.0 |111.7 |-21.7 |-19.4 |99.2 |119.6 |-20.4 |-17.1
Hereford and Worcester |45.9 |44.4 |1.5 |3.4 |50.7 |47.2 |3.5 |7.4
Hertfordshire |74.4 |69.8 |4.6 |6.6 |82.5 |77.2 |5.3 |6.9
Humberside |79.4 |72.5 |6.9 |9.5 |84.9 |76.8 |8.1 |10.6
Isle of Wight |10.1 |10.6 |-0.5 |-4.7 |10.7 |11.3 |-0.6 |-5.4
Kent |111.8 |117.8 |-6.0 |-5.1 |129.1 |126.7 |2.4 |1.9
Lancashire |125.4 |113.9 |11.5 |10.1 |138.3 |120.3 |18.0 |15.0
Leicestershire |70.7 |69.4 |1.3 |1.9 |74.4 |75.5 |-1.0 |-1.4
Lincolnshire |38.3 |41.2 |-2.9 |-7.0 |40.2 |45.0 |-4.8 |-10.6
Norfolk |48.1 |56.2 |-8.1 |-14.4 |54.3 |59.6 |-5.3 |-8.9
Northamptonshire |44.1 |42.0 |2.1 |5.0 |47.9 |45.3 |2.6 |5.7
Northumberland |25.9 |21.9 |4.0 |18.3 |26.9 |23.2 |3.7 |16.0
North Yorkshire |45.0 |49.1 |-4.1 |-8.4 |48.7 |52.2 |-4.1 |-7.8
Nottinghamshire |96.3 |87.6 |8.7 |9.9 |99.5 |93.9 |5.6 |6.0
Oxfordshire |43.6 |40.1 |3.5 |8.7 |47.7 |44.0 |3.7 |8.4
Shropshire |28.2 |27.3 |0.9 |3.3 |30.6 |29.8 |0.8 |2.7
Somerset |32.1 |33.0 |-0.9 |-2.7 |34.2 |35.5 |-1.3 |-3.8
Staffordshire |66.4 |69.6 |-3.2 |-4.6 |78.9 |74.9 |4.0 |5.3
Suffolk |42.2 |45.7 |-3.5 |-7.7 |47.9 |49.4 |-1.5 |-3.1
Surrey |58.3 |71.4 |-13.1 |-18.3 |70.2 |78.4 |-8.2 |-10.5
Warwickshire |33.7 |32.5 |1.2 |3.7 |35.7 |35.1 |0.6 |1.8
West Sussex |44.8 |54.3 |-9.5 |-17.5 |50.1 |58.7 |-8.6 |-14.7
Wiltshire |38.7 |37.2 |1.5 |4.0 |41.9 |40.1 |1.8 |4.5
Isles of Scilly |0.1 |0.1 |0.0 |0.0 |0.1 |0.2 |-0.1 |-28.0
Notes:
It has been assumed that "budget" and "budget estimate" both refer to the budget submitted by authorities to central Government at the beginning of the financial
year. It has also been assumed that "standard spending assessment" and "standard spending estimate" both refer to the final SSAs issued by DOE following the local
authority settlement debate.
The difference shown is calculated by subtracting the SSA from the budget for each year.
Budget data has been adjusted to exclude expenditure directly funded by specific grants to make it comparable with the standard spending assessment.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage change in (a) net and (b) gross expenditure on personal social services from 1985-86 to 1991-92 adjusted by the personal social services deflator.
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Mr. Yeo : The latest estimates for revenue expenditure in 1991-92 represent real terms increases of 30.4 per cent. for net expenditure and 22.5 per cent. for gross expenditure over expenditure in 1985-86.
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Treatment Costs
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost in England in 1990-91 and 1991-92 of treating (a) an in- patient case in an acute hospital, (b) an out-patient in an acute hospital, (c) a day case in an acute hospital and (d) an accident and emergency patient in an acute hospital.
Mr. Sackville : The information is not available in precisely the form requested. Expenditure on in-patients and day cases is no longer separately identified. Expenditure on day cases is now combined with that for in-patients to form a new category : patients using a bed. Expenditure is also identified by specialty rather than the type of hospital in which a patient is treated. Figures for 1990-91 are given in the table. Figures for 1991-92 are not yet available.
|1990-91
|£
--------------------------------------------------
Acute in-patient and day case |815
Acute out-patient attendance |41
Accident and emergency attendance |24
Osteoporosis
Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS of treatment of osteoporosis patients, both in hospital and the community, in each year since 1985.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not collected centrally. However, the office of health economics has estimated that hospital in- patient expenditure on osteoporosis was £128 million in 1985-86 in England and Wales. In 1991-92 prices, this figure would be of the order of £200 million. These estimates do not take into account the cost of out -patient treatment and the costs of general practitioner services, including the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy and other drugs.
Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of recorded cases of osteoporosis in the years 1985 to 1991.
Mr. Sackville : Information is not available in the form requested, as there is no requirement to record the diagnosis in general practice and many patients with osteoporosis will not be admitted to hospital. The estimated number of discharges and deaths with a main diagnosis of osteoporosis was 2,000 in England in 1985, according to the hospital in- patient inquiry. The estimated number of completed episodes, ordinary and day case admissions, with a main diagnosis of osteoporosis was 3,700 in England in 1989-90, according to the hospital episode statistics. The effect on the figures of the change in definition cannot readily be quantified, but it is believed to be of a relatively small order of magnitude.
NHS Expenditure
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the level of capital spending on hospital and community health services in net terms after deducing proceeds from land and property sales, in each year since 1974-75 (a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator and (c) adjusted using the relevant index of NHS prices ;
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(2) to ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the level of (a) total NHS expenditure, (b) current expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (c) capital expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (d) expenditure on the family practitioner services, (e) expenditure on centrally funded NHS services and (f) expenditure on personal social services, in each year since 1974-75, (i) in cash terms, (ii) adjusted using the relevant pay and prices index and (iii) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator.Mr. Sackville [pursuant to his reply, 18 November] : I regret that there was an error in my previous reply. The last figure in the HCHS capital net table was incorrectly calculated. The revised table is as follows :
HCHS capital net expenditure (including trusts'
capital expenditure)
Cash Adjusted by Adjusted input
1990-91 prices unit costs 1990-9
prices
|A |B |A |B |A |B
--------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |- |242 |- |1,100|- |1,043
1975-76 |- |326 |- |1,181|- |1,075
1976-77 |- |355 |- |1,133|- |1,046
1977-78 |- |314 |- |881 |- |809
1978-79 |- |357 |- |904 |- |824
1979-80 |- |392 |- |850 |- |749
1980-81 |- |536 |- |983 |- |814
1981-82 |- |646 |- |1,080|- |950
1982-83 |- |676 |- |1,055|- |979
1983-84 |- |685 |- |1,022|- |972
1984-85 |- |760 |- |1,080|- |1,035
1985-86 |- |796 |- |1,072|- |1,024
1985-86 |888 |- |1,195|- |1,142|-
1986-87 |892 |- |1,162|- |1,093|-
1987-88 |902 |- |1,115|- |1,051|-
1988-89 |906 |- |1,044|- |998 |-
1989-90 |1,191|- |1,288|- |1,202|-
1990-91 |1,372|- |1,372|- |1,372|-
1991-92 |1,427|- |1,331|- |- |-
1992-93 |1,856|- |1,660|- |- |-
NHS Trusts
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend to doctors working in trusts the existing rights that hospital doctors have in paragraph 330 of their terms and conditions of service to speak out in the interests of their patients' health ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is for national health service trusts to agree terms and conditions with doctors and other staff whom they employ. However, I am currently consulting widely on a proposal to issue guidance to the national health service--including NHS trusts--on the rights and responsibilities of managers and staff in this matter.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to allow trust hospitals to sell off pathology or related services to the private sector ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is for trusts themselves to decide whether it would be better to provide their own pathology services or to subcontract with other national health service or independent providers of such services. Whatever they decide, trusts must include pathology costs in the overall price of the relevant contract with their
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purchasers, and must not charge individuals for pathology services which are provided as part of national health service treatment.NHS Pay
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing national health service pay expenditure in 1990-91, 1992-93 and her best estimate for 1993-94, showing the figures both in millions of pounds and current prices.
Dr. Mawhinney : The table shows the best available figures for expenditure on pay in the national health service in 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94. The figure for 1992-93 is the latest esimate available and the range for 1993-94 is consistent with a zero to 1.5 per cent. pay increase in public sector pay, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement.
£ billion Financial year |Nominal |1992-93 ------------------------------------------------------------ 1990-91<1> |13.9 |15.6 1992-93<2> |17.0 |17.0 1993-94<3> |17.0 to 17.3 |16.5 to 16.8 <1> Best estimate from available data. <2> Latest estimate. <3> Provisional range to reflect the 0-1.5 per cent. range of pay increase for the public sector contained in the autumn statement.
Hospitals (Advertising)
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on her plans to allow advertising in hospital out- patient departments ; what guidelines she intends to issue on such advertising ; and whether the advertising of certain products will be prohibited ;
(2) what contracts have been negotiated in relation to the use of advertising in accident and emergency and out-patient departments ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : Health authorities may allow commercial advertising in hospitals in order to generate additional income. General guidance on income generation activities by hospitals is included in a "guide to local initiatives" issued to health authorities in March 1989. Responsibility for income generation schemes is for national health service managers. But the guidance advises health authorities that specific schemes should be congruent with the goals, culture and objectives of the health service and should certainly not contradict them. It would not be in an authority's interest to be involved in activities which are in conflict with its own aims or detract from its image in the community.
I do not intend issuing any specific guidance on advertising in hospitals.
Information on contracts for advertising in hospitals is not collected centrally.
Health Authorities (Property)
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much, at current prices, was raised from the disposal of property in each regional health authority in each year
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since 1990 ; what is the current projection of funds to be raised by such disposals in 1992-93 and 1993-94 ; and if she will make a statement.Mr. Sackville : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Wednesday 18 November at column 279. Figures are not available for all regions beyond 1992-93. However, the national health service is expected to realise some £155 million from land and property disposals in 1993-94 which will be reinvested in patient care.
Health Survey
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement giving details of the health survey presently being carried out by the social survey division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, including sample size and completion date.
Dr. Mawhinney : The health survey for England, currently being carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on behalf of the Department of Health, is a part of a continuing programme of surveys to monitor the nation's health. It is a central part of our health of the nation initiative and focuses on cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors.
The first survey took place in the autumn of 1991 and achieved a sample size of 3,100 adults. A report is due in mid-1993. The fieldwork for the 1992 survey is running from September to December. It is aiming for a sample size of 4,000 adults. The target sample size for 1993 is 17,000 adults. Results will be published annually.
Medical Audit Initiative
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 349, what guidance has been given to those involved in the medical audit initiative on (a) expenses to be claimed and (b) the standard of travel and hotel accommodation to be used consequent on their duties ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : None. Where national health service or Department of Health staff attend meetings or events which entails an overnight stay, expenses may be claimed in accordance with standard rates and conditions set by the Treasury which reflect the seniority of the staff involved.
Nuclear Accidents
Mr. Cann : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to ensure (a) that there is available a sufficient supply of potassium iodate tablets for distribution to the population living within 25 miles of Sizewell A and B nuclear reactors for use in the event of there occurring a major accident and (b) that the tablets can be distributed within 24 hours of an accident occurring.
Mr. Sackville : The detailed emergency planning zone around the Sizewell nuclear power station extends to a radius of 2.5 km. The size of such zones is formally approved by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and is based on a "reference accident" for the reactor type in question. The reference accident is the maximum size of an accident that can
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reasonably be foreseen. While accidents worse than the reference accident could occur, this probability is so remote that detailed emergency planning against their consequences is not justified. The provision of potassium iodate tablets is one of a number of countermeasures for which local emergency plans must make provision. Responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of arrangements for responding to nuclear emergencies in respect of particular nuclear installations currently rests with the operators, in consultation with local authorities, health authorities, the emergency services and other interests. The hon. Member may therefore wish to write to the chairman of Nuclear Electric for further information about the arrangements at Sizewell power station.Smoking
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she proposes to take to tackle the incidence of smoking among children with special educational needs.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Government are committed to the continuation of the existing programmes on teenage smoking and to developing material aimed at parents who smoke.
We are encouraging progress towards a situation in which all educational establishments have an effective smoking policy governing not only young people but staff and all other adults using the premises.
Education in schools on the harmful effects of smoking is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.
Superannuation Branch
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards establishing her Department's NHS superannuation branch as an executive agency.
Mr. Sackville : We are pleased to announce that the NHS superannuation branch will be established as the NHS Pensions Agency on 20 November. The agency will administer the NHS occupational pension schemes for England and Wales. Its detailed objectives and functions are set out in a policy and resources framework document, copies of which are available in the Library.
The chief executive has been set the following key performance targets for the remainder of 1992-93 :
1. Service Standards
a. Pension awards to be cleared :
(i) Within four weeks of receipt of application from employer : 89 per cent.*
(ii) Within eight weeks of receipt of application from employer 99 per cent.*
b. Pension age estimates for non-practitioners to be cleared : (i) Within four weeks of request : 68 per cent.
(ii) Within eight weeks of request : 99 per cent.
c. Pensions age estimates for practitioners to be cleared : (i) Within six weeks of request : 71 per cent.
(ii) Within eight weeks of request : 99 per cent.
d. Transfer payments to be made :
(i) Within eight weeks of application : 95 per cent.
(ii) Within 10 weeks of application : 99 per cent.
* for incapacity awards the periods start from confirmation of medical incapacity.
2. Efficiency improvements
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To deliver at least 2 per cent. efficiency gains in keeping with agreed 1992-93 running costs budget.3. New efficiency indicators
By January 1993, to develop at least one of the output measures needed to construct an overall corporate efficiency indicator for the agency.
4. New quality indicators
a. By 31 January 1993, to develop a statistical sampling method to provide a sound indicator of the level of accuracy in award and transfer calculations.
b. By 31 December 1992, to complete a customer satisfaction survey for major agency outputs.
5. Value for money review
By 31 January 1993, to undertake a review of agency activities, and services used by the agency, to determine a market testing programme for inclusion in the 1993-94 business plan.
6. Organisational effectiveness review
By 31 January 1993, to complete the first review of agency structure and organisation and to identify a preliminary programme for improving effectiveness for stakeholders in the Agency's services.
7. Support systems review
By 31 January 1993, to provide an information systems strategy to support the agency's corporate, business and management objectives. 8. Citizen's charter
By 31 March 1993, to propose new mechanisms for registering stakeholders' views on agency services.
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