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Dairy Inspection Charges
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether dairy inspection charges are the same across the United Kingdom.
Mr. Curry : Dairy inspections are charged at the same rates in England and Wales. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, the enforcement regime is different and there is no charge for inspection visits.
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Horticulture
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his promotion of the British horticultural industry during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EC.
Mr. Curry : We promoted our horticultural industry during the United Kingdom presidency as vigorously as ever, especially during the informal agricultural council in Cambridge. The British horticulture industry will also directly benefit from Community measures adopted under the United Kingdom presidency including the single market arrangements for plant health, bee health and the fruit and vegetable regime and the extension of the hops conversion aid scheme. In addition, the sector will have the advantage of the whole range of measures on the single market adopted during the United Kingdom presidency.
Fishing Vessels
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many men are employed on vessels of 12 m length and under ; and what percentage of total employment in the fishing industry this represents.
Mr. Curry : This information is not available.
EC Land (Expenditure)
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish expenditure figures in ecus paid by EC member states on agriculture per hectare of land in agricultural use over the past five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Curry : The table shows expenditure on CAP market support measures from the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund by member state.
EAGGF guarantee expenditure per hectare by member state
1987
|1 |2 |3
|Expenditure million|UAA million hectare|Average ecu/per HA
|ecu |(1ö2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |821.5 |1.406 |584.28
Denmark |1,058.8 |2.818 |375.73
Germany |3,993.0 |12.000 |332.75
Greece |1,341.2 |5.741 |233.62
Spain |604.1 |27.121 |22.27
France |5,662.1 |31.401 |180.31
Ireland |956.3 |5.676 |168.48
Italy |3,903.5 |17.404 |224.29
Luxembourg |1.5 |0.127 |11.81
Netherlands |2,727.8 |2.204 |1,237.66
Portugal |147.2 |4.532 |32.48
United Kingdom |1,748.8 |18.505 |94.50
1988
|1 |2 |3
|Expenditure million|UAA million hectare|Average ecu/per HA
|ecu |(1ö2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |721.5 |1.395 |517.20
Denmark |1,212.4 |2.815 |430.69
Germany |4,904.4 |11.915 |411.62
Greece |1,318.8 |5.741 |229.72
Spain |1,887.2 |27.110 |69.61
France |6,209.7 |31.354 |198.05
Ireland |1,081.3 |5.701 |189.67
Italy |4,349.7 |17.404 |249.93
Luxembourg |3.0 |0.127 |23.62
Netherlands |3,831.5 |2.019 |1,897.72
Portugal |157.2 |4.532 |34.69
United Kingdom |1,992.8 |18.510 |107.66
1989
|1 |2 |3
|Expenditure million|UAA million hectare|Average ecu/per HA
|ecu |(1ö2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |585.8 |1.395 |419.93
Denmark |1,015.1 |2.809 |361.37
Germany |4,191.7 |11.885 |352.69
Greece |1,650.9 |5.741 |287.56
Spain |1,903.2 |27.110 |70.20
France |4,810.5 |30.710 |156.64
Ireland |1,241.3 |5.697 |217.89
Italy |4,621.8 |17.297 |267.20
Luxembourg |1.8 |0.126 |14.29
Netherlands |3,749.9 |2.019 |1,857.31
Portugal |174.4 |4.532 |38.48
United Kingdom |1,917.0 |18.031 |106.32
1990
|1 |2 |3
|Expenditure million|UAA million hectare|Average ecu/per HA
|ecu |(1ö2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |873.7 |1.363 |641.01
Denmark |1,113.7 |2.809 |396.48
Germany |4,365.6 |11.868 |367.85
Greece |1,949.7 |5.741 |339.61
Spain |2,120.8 |27.110 |78.23
France |5,142.6 |30.581 |168.16
Ireland |1,668.5 |5.697 |292.87
Italy |4,157.1 |17.215 |241.48
Luxembourg |5.2 |0.127 |40.94
Netherlands |2,869.0 |2.019 |1,421.00
Portugal |214.2 |4.532 |47.26
United Kingdom |1,979.0 |18.447 |107.28
1991
|1 |2 |3
|Expenditure million|UAA million hectare|Average ecu/per HA
|ecu |(1ö2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |1,434.2 |- |1,052.24
Denmark |1,200.5 |- |427.38
Germany |5,201.9 |- |438.31
Greece |2,178.3 |- |379.43
Spain |3,269.8 |- |120.61
France |6,318.3 |- |206.61
Ireland |1,716.8 |- |301.35
Italy |5,152.7 |- |299.31
Luxembourg |2.8 |- |22.05
Netherlands |2,638.5 |- |1,306.83
Portugal |314.6 |- |69.42
United Kingdom |2,396.3 |- |129.90
Sources: (1) EAGGF Guarantee Reports 1987-91.
(2) The agricultural situation in the Community Reports
1988-91. UAA statistics not available for 1991. Average expenditure/hectare was calculated using
the 1990 area.
Note: UAA=Utilised agricultural area.
Folic Acid
Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that daily dietary supplements of folic acid remain available under the terms of the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements to those women who are at risk of bearing children with neural tube defects ; (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements on the availability of those folic acid supplements which the chief medical officer's expert advisory group has recommended should be taken daily by women at risk of bearing children with neural tube defects.
Mr. Soames : No proposals for a directive on dietary supplements have yet been made by the Commission. However, our policy is to ensure the continued availability of safe and properly labelled products, including folic acid supplements.
Pig Disease
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contingency plans he has made to compensate farmers for any outbreak of Aujeszky's disease coming from free movement of pigs within the single market ; and what funds he has available for this purpose.
Mr. Soames : Stringent safeguard controls relating to the import of pigs have been negotiated. If, in spite of these, there is an outbreak of Aujeszky's disease, legislative powers remain to reactivate the levy.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the directors of the Pig Disease Eradication Fund Ltd. to comply with his request to make available to his Ministry remaining funds in its account ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : Our officials are discussing this matter with industry representatives.
Rabbits
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from organisations representing rabbit breeders on myxomatosis vaccine.
Mr. Soames : A number of representations have been received from organisations representing rabbit breeders, and from individuals owning rabbits, expressing concern that no myxomatosis vaccine is currently available in the United Kingdom. I share this concern and can confirm that applications to licence such vaccines, including one received recently, will be assessed as rapidly as possible.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether suitable vaccines can be imported for myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease in rabbits ; and what steps his Department has taken to assist in making such vaccines available to vets.
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Mr. Soames : No veterinary vaccine may be imported into or marketed in the United Kingdom without a product licence. The veterinary medicines directorate will assess any applications for such licences for myxomatosis or viral haemorrhagic disease vaccines as rapidly as possible.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will establish a fund to compensate owners for loss or damage to domestic and show rabbits as a consequence of myxomatosis.
Mr. Soames : It is not Government policy to offer compensation in such circumstances.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Faversham (Sir R. Moate) of 8 June 1992, Official Report, column 15, if he will make a statement on the current position on myxomatosis vaccine.
Mr. Soames : No myxomatosis vaccine is currently licensed in the United Kingdom. However, the veterinary medicines directorate has recently received from Intervet (UK) Ltd. an application to licence such a vaccine. The data supporting the applications are being assessed as rapidly as possible against the standard Medicines Act criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.
Badgers
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that no licence is given to allow hunts to enter dogs into badger setts during the breeding period of December to June.
Mr. Soames : The badgers' breeding season is one of the factors which will be taken into account when considering an application to interfere with a badger sett. However, each application will be considered on its merits.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his proposed budget for badger culling and live tests in 1993-94.
Mr. Soames : The adoption of the live test as part of this Department's badger control strategy is currently under consideration. However, provisional estimates indicate that the direct running costs of a pre-emptive strategy based on such a test could be approximately £900,000 in 1993-94.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure lactating badgers are not kept from their cubs when caught in live traps for the proposed bovine TB brocktest.
Mr. Soames : Written instructions are provided to field staff on the operation of the current badger control strategy. Staff must visit traps as early as possible in the day following the night of capture and sows showing signs of being recently suckled must be marked and released.
No decision has yet been made about the introducing of a new strategy based on a live test.
Hens
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the most recent report his Department has produced on the efficiency of methods
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used for the automated slaughter of hens ; and whether each method meets the standards laid down by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.Mr. Soames : There is no specific report on the efficiency of methods used for the automated slaughter of hens, but the Ministry's veterinary officers regularly monitor the welfare conditions of poultry at slaughter, including the methods used for the automated slaughter of hens. Automated slaughtering methods appear to be working effectively and any problems detected are dealt with speedily. The welfare of poultry at slaughter is covered by primary and secondary legislation and a statutory code of practice. A list of these, and details of implementation of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendations on the subject, is in the Library of the House.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle were infected with bovine tuberculosis for the last five years in each affected county.
Mr. Soames : The numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each affected county in England and Wales for the years 1988-91 were as follows :
|Year(s) in which |Number of herds |Number of confirmed
|cases occurred |reactors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England
Avon |1988 |8 |42
|1989 |10 |49
|1990 |9 |10
|1991 |17 |23
Bedfordshire |1988 |1 |1
|1990 |1 |1
Cheshire |1991 |1 |2
Cornwall |1988 |18 |42
|1989 |45 |110
|1990 |33 |50
|1991 |47 |107
Derbyshire |1988 |6 |7
|1989 |2 |3
Devon |1988 |17 |33
|1989 |12 |22
|1990 |19 |35
|1991 |10 |19
Dorset |1988 |6 |8
|1989 |5 |5
|1990 |4 |6
|1991 |4 |10
Gloucestershire |1988 |11 |33
|1989 |13 |31
|1990 |15 |22
|1991 |36 |47
Hampshire |1989 |1 |1
|1991 |1 |1
Lancashire |1990 |1 |1
Leicestershire |1989 |1 |1
Lincolnshire |1989 |1 |2
Northamptonshire |1990 |1 |1
Northumberland |1988 |1 |1
|1989 |1 |1
|1990 |2 |2
Nottinghamshire |1988 |1 |1
Shropshire |1990 |1 |1
|1991 |1 |1
Somerset |1988 |2 |2
Suffolk |1989 |1 |3
Surrey |1991 |1 |1
Sussex East |1989 |1 |5
|1991 |2 |2
Sussex West |1989 |1 |12
|1991 |1 |1
Warwickshire |1991 |1 |1
Wiltshire |1988 |7 |8
|1989 |4 |4
|1990 |5 |5
|1991 |3 |7
Yorkshire North |1991 |2 |2
Yorkshire South |1989 |1 |1
|1991 |1 |1
|Year(s) in which |Number of herds |Number of confirmed
|cases occurred |reactors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wales:
Clwyd |1989 |1 |1
Dyfed |1988 |12 |16
|1989 |5 |9
|1990 |8 |21
|1991 |3 |4
West Glamorgan |1988 |1 |1
Gwent |1989 |1 |4
Powys |1989 |1 |1
The total numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each affected county in Scotland in the years 1988 to 1991 were as follows :
|Number of herds |Number of confirmed
|reactors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland:
Aberdeenshire |7 |12
Argyll |1 |1
Ayrshire |7 |9
Berwickshire |1 |1
Inverness-shire |1 |1
Kircudbright |3 |4
Midlothian |1 |1
Wigtown |4 |5
Roxburgh |1 |1
Shetland |1 |1
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Complete figures for 1992 in the form requested are not yet available. However, the numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in the first nine months of 1992 in each administrative region were as follows :
P
|Number of herds |Number of confirmed
|reactors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Eastern |0 |0
Eastern |0 |0
Northern |6 |6
South Western |104 |364
Midlands and West |3 |5
Wales |10 |39
Scotland |2 |3
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what forms of genetically modified organisms have currently been (a) approved for use in the United Kingdom and (b) pending approval for use in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Soames : All genetically modified organisms are subject, in addition to general controls on genetic modification, to any specific legislation controlling the uses for which they are intended. My Department is responsible for giving approval--whether statutory or not--for the use of a number of commodities, which may contain or consist of genetically modified organisms, notably :
veterinary medicines
agricultural pesticides
novel foods
crop varieties.
Statutory approval has been given for seven vaccines for use in treating pigs, and non-statutory clearance for the food use of a genetically modified yeast. Approval has been sought for marketing, throughout the EC, four genetically modified chrysanthemum varieties, and an application for non-statutory clearance for the use in this country of a further yeast has also been received.
In addition, one experimental permit for a genetically modified pesticidal virus has been issued and a further permit has been applied for.
Until 1 February, general control over the use of genetically modified organisms lies with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an ethical committee to examine proposals for genetically modified animals with the power to examine proposals before they are submitted for patent, and to control the importation and use of any such animal, or product derived for any such animal developed outside the United Kingdom and the EC ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 11 January at column 622 . I do not propose to anticipate any advice that we may receive from that ethical committee, whose work will cover genetically modified animals as well as other animals bred by advanced techniques.
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Habitats
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what preparations his Department is making in terms of the impact of the EC habitats directive and its effect on agriculture in this country ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : While the implementation of the EC habitats directive is primarily a matter for the Secretary of State for the Environment, the consultations between our Departments will ensure that the implications for agriculture are taken into account. There will be full public consultation on the Government's proposals.
Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the hill livestock compensatory allowance rates in cash terms and real terms in each year since 1982.
Mr. Curry : The information requested is contained at tables 16 and 17 of the statistical data prepared for the 1992 "Autumn Review of the Economic Conditions in the Hills and Uplands", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many producers are entitled to
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hill livestock compensatory allowances in England ; and what proportion of those are located in (a) severely disadvantaged and (b) disadvantaged areas.Mr. Gummer : Some 15,000 producers in England are currently entitled to claim hill livestock compensatory allowances ; of these about 11,000 are in the severely disadvantaged area and 4,000 in the disadvantaged area.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number and proportion of farmers in England who receive hill livestock compensatory allowance payments.
Mr. Curry : Around 15,000 farmers in England receive payments under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme representing about 11 per cent. of the total number of farmers in England.
Farm Land
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what hectarage of land in England is in (a) less favoured areas, (b) severely disadvantaged areas and (c) disadvantaged areas ; what proportion of land in England each figure represents ; and how many farmers are involved.
Mr. Curry : The figures requested are as follows :
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|Hectares (million)|Percentage of |<1>Number of farms
|English land area |in less favoured
|areas
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All less favoured areas |1.805 |14 |21,300
Of which:
Severely disadvantaged |1.405 |11 |14,500
Disadvantaged |0.401 |3 |6,800
<1>In whole or in part (main holdings June 1991).
Civil Servants (Bicycles)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current conditions on which civil servants in his Department are granted salary advances to enable the purchase of bicycles for home-to-office travel ; if he will make a statement on the current conditions in each agency of his Department ; what plans he has to change the conditions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The Department and agencies offer advances of salary of £50-£100 to permanent, non-industrial staff in executive officer or equivalent grades and below, for the purchase of bicycles for home-to- office travel. One application is permitted every five years.
Potatoes
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he considered comments made to him in response to the consultation letter from his Department of 26 November 1992 on potatoes which arrived at his Department after the deadline of 7 December 1992.
Mr. Gummer : Yes. We are considering all replies received to date.
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Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the responses to the consultation letter of 26 November 1992 concerning an EC potato regime were supportive of the principle behind the present potato marketing scheme establishing both high quality standards and a stable market for potatoes as being more appropriate than the proposals set out in Com(92) 185 final.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from interested parties about the proposed changes in the Potato Marketing Board aid scheme ; and how many have supported the proposals to abolish the Potato Marketing Board aid scheme.
Mr. Curry : Since the publication of the proposals for an EC potato regime which as drafted do not make provision for the area (quota) controls and support buying arrangements of our potato marketing scheme, we have received a number of representations, mainly from growers or their representatives, the majority of which are in support of the continuation of the scheme.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those outstanding recommendations contained in any of the reviews of the
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Potato Marketing Board aid scheme conducted by Government over the past 10 years which have yet to be fully implemented.Mr. Curry : Following the 1988 review of the potato marketing scheme the Government announced their intention to abolish the guarantee arrangements as soon as parliamentary time permitted. The Agriculture Bill currently in another place contains the necessary provisions. All other recommendations have already been implemented.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that potato producers in the United Kingdom will be competing fairly with EC competitors in other member states under the regulations provided for in the proposed draft EC potato scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12 January 1993 to the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) at column 721.
Fish Merchants
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to assist with grants those small business fish merchants who are now required to pay just below £30, 000 to bring handling facilities up to the hygiene standards now demanded ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : EC grants were, until recently, available under regulation 4042/89 to investments involving the marketing and processing of fisheries and aquaculture produce. This scheme was aimed at fish processors and projects involving the upgrading of hygiene standards were eligible. However, the limited EC funding available to it meant that competition for grants was intense and not all eligible projects could be warded aid. The scheme closed to applications in the United Kingdom on 31 December 1992. Proposals to replace it are to be considered by the EC as part of the general review of its structural funds this year.
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Wool
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider introducing a fall-back system of support available to low volume producers to enable higher returns than farmgate prices to be paid for wool to ensure the national flock is clipped annually.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from integrated parties about the proposal to terminate the guaranteed price for wool ; and how many supported the proposed change.
Mr. Curry : I have received a small number of representations to the effect that the wool guarantee should be retained.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost to United Kingdom sheep producers of the proposal to terminate the guaranteed price for wool ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The wool guarantee is intended to operate as a means of price stabilisation, not continuous support. However, there will be some short term impact on producers' returns, of the order of £26 million in relation to the 1993 clip. Total direct subsidies payable to sheep farmers in respect of 1992 are estimated to amount to about £480 million.
Milk
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures for the annual consumption of whole and low fat liquid milks since 1974, and figures for the total quantity of milk going for liquid sales and manufacture in each year.
Mr. Gummer : The following table gives the annual volume of sales for liquid consumption and for manufacture through MMB schemes in the United Kingdom since 1974. The sales for liquid consumption of whole milk, semi skimmed milk and skimmed milk are then combined with the net volume of trade in each to provide estimates of consumption. Consumption estimates on a comparable basis are not readily available for the years 1974 to 1981.
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Sales through MMB Consumption
schemes in the (million litres,
United Kingdom product volume)<2>
(million litres):
|for liquid |for manufacture |Total<1> |Whole Milk |Semi Skimmed Milk|Skimmed Milk
|consumption
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974 |7,698 |5,399 |13,098 |- |- |-
1975 |7,862 |5,270 |13,133 |- |- |-
1976 |7,760 |5,858 |13,618 |- |- |-
1977 |7,484 |6,921 |14,406 |- |- |-
1978 |7,381 |7,713 |15,094 |- |- |-
1979 |7,305 |7,811 |15,116 |- |- |-
1980 |7,196 |7,986 |15,182 |- |- |-
1981 |7,093 |7,982 |15,084 |- |- |-
1982 |7,001 |8,928 |15,942 |6,815 |102 |74
1983 |6,977 |9,450 |16,442 |6,689 |149 |123
1984 |6,958 |8,473 |15,446 |6,395 |366 |151
1985 |6,898 |8,350 |15,263 |6,135 |500 |206
1986 |6,851 |8,597 |15,460 |5,598 |747 |412
1987 |6,816 |7,800 |14,630 |5,371 |900 |436
1988 |6,792 |7,426 |14,231 |5,131 |989 |547
1989 |6,793 |7,146 |13,951 |4,804 |1,250 |603
1990 |6,780 |7,403 |14,194 |4,481 |1,524 |644
1991 |6,745 |6,901 |13,655 |4,127 |1,802 |709
1992(p) |6,736 |6,797 |13,543 |n.a. |n.a. |n.a.
Note: The total sales figures for years from 1981 do not equal the sum of sales for liquid consumption and for manufacture as the measurement
of sales is adjusted for waste in transit.
<2>Data not readily available for years 1974-1981.
(p)=Provisional.
n.a.=not available.
Farm Incomes
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures of average farm incomes for all farms and mostly sheep farms, distinguishing between severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged areas, for the most recent available year.
Mr. Gummer : Details of farm incomes in 1990-91 for all types of farm are contained at table 4.2 in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom" (1992 edition). Details of incomes for sheep farms during 1990-91 and the two subsequent years in the less favoured areas are contained in table 21 of the statistical data prepared for the 1992 autumn review of the economic conditions in the hills and uplands. Copies of both the sources referred to are in the Library of the House.
HEALTH
Management Consultants
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the West Midlands regional health authority on the services of management consultants in 1990, 1991 and 1992, respectively.
Dr. Mawhinney : Decisions to employ management consultants are matters for individual health authorities and details of any expenditure incurred are not separately identifiable in their annual accounts or otherwise collected centrally.
Hospital Admissions
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of (a) the number of hospital admissions postponed or denied by the yellow warning issued by the London emergency bed service at 3 pm on 7 January and (b) the extent of the related increased demand for emergency admissions.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons why hospitals in various health districts in the North East Thames region were unable to cope with demand for treatment at the beginning of the year and so issued a yellow warning ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The yellow alert issued recently by the London emergency bed service was occasioned by an unexpectedly sharp rise in demand for emergency admissions to hospitals in north and east London and in west Essex. The yellow alert affected 11 hospitals which were thereby encouraged to take appropriate action on elective admissions to make room for the increased emergency admissions that were mostly occurring outside London. No patient requiring urgent treatment has had that treatment cancelled. Careful and flexible bed management and proper planning of elective workload levels helps hospitals to manage unexpected demands for their services while minimising disruption of elective work.
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Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the statistical basis she is using to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the proposals of the Tomlinson report on the mechanism of the London emergency bed service, stating the current proportion of beds within the area of the service kept vacant for emergency admissions.
Dr. Mawhinney : The emergency bed service and its status reports on the availability of emergency beds are for use when there are unexpected demands. The Tomlinson report does not recommend any change in this system.
Nicotine Patches
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by her Department of the safety of nicotine patches ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Licensing Authority and its advisory body the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), in assessing applications for product licences for nicotine patches, considered all the available evidence which included clinical trials ; data from usage in other countries published or unpublished, whether or not favourable to the drug. The CSM has to be satisfied that the drug is safe and efficacious for the indication proposed, in this case treatment of nicotine withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation in nicotine dependant persons, and that it is of good quality. These are the only criteria which can be considered under the Medicines Act.
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