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Mr. Goodlad : As at 31 December 1992, 30,971 appeals had been heard by the Refugee Status review board. Of these 1,855 were successful.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring has taken place to date of those Vietnamese boat people who have been repatriated from Hong Kong to Vietnam to ensure that they do not face persecution on being returned to Vietnam ; if such monitoring is continuing ; and what the results of the monitoring reveal.
Mr. Goodland : Monitoring has been and will continue to be carried out by the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the British embassy in Hanoi and non-governmental organisations working in Vietnam.
There has been no evidence of ill-treatment by the Vietnamese authorities in more than 31,000 cases, including returns from first asylum countries in the region other than Hong Kong.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Mr. Goodlad : The development of our relations with Vietnam has been given greater impetus by progress towards a political settlement in Cambodia and a solution of the problem of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong. Our aid programme to Vietnam was resumed in 1990. Bilateral trade is increasing rapidly and the United Kingdom is now the fifth largest foreign investor in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Foreign Minister paid a successful visit to the United Kingdom in June 1992, and Sir George Young, Lord Caithness and I all visited Vietnam last year. We are also at the forefront of efforts to expand relations between the EC and Vietnam, and to normalise Vietnam's relations with the international financial institutions.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people have, in total to date, been repatriated from Hong Kong to Vietnam.
Mr. Goodlad : As at 31 December 1992, 26,753 Vietnamese migrants had been repatriated.
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Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people currently remain in Hong Kong awaiting repatriation to Vietnam.
Mr. Goodlad : As at 31 December 1992, 22,118 Vietnamese migrants had been found not to be refugees and were awaiting repatriation. A further 20,599 were awaiting refugee status determination.
Iran
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Iran's military build-up and the removal by the Iranian Government of non-Iranians from Abu Musa island in the Gulf.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We accept the right of countries to acquire the means to defend themselves, but are concerned that Iran's arms procurement should not pose a threat to regional stability. Iranian actions on Abu Musa in the course of last year were a cause for concern in terms of regional stability. We and our European Community partners have urged Iran and the United Arab Emirates to work for a peaceful resolution of their differences.
Denmark
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the provisions of international law governing the extent to which the International Court of Justice may adjudicate on the intergovernmental decision taken in Edinburgh concerning Denmark.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The provisions of international law governing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to adjudicate on questions arising on international agreements, such as the decision concerning Denmark agreed at the Edinburgh European Council, are set out in the statute of the International Court of Justice, annexed to the UN charter and in particular chapter II.
Mr. Mansoor Hussain Qureshi
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 January concerning Mansoor Hussain Qureshi--Ref : K051037-- Official Report, column 157, when Mr. Qureshi was refused entry clearance to join his wife in the United Kingdom ; what representations have been received at the British post in Karachi by Mr. Qureshi's representatives ; what is the average time taken by the post in Karachi in preparing explanatory statements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Mr. Qureshi was refused entry clearance to join his wife on 15 April 1992.
The Deputy High Commission in Karachi received representations from Chans and Co., immigration consultants, in February 1992 ; from Bradford law centre on 19 November 1992 and 14 January 1993 ; and from Ruth Budney and Co, in December 1992.
The average time taken by the deputy high commission in Karachi in preparing explanatory statements is, 12 weeks from receipt of the completed appeal forms.
As the hon. Member may know, it has only recently come to light that Mr. Qureshi's appeal forms never
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reached the post in Karachi. However, now that they have received proof of posting from Bradford law centre, they have agreed to act as if the appeal had been submitted in time.Laws of War
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the additional protocols to the Geneva convention on the laws of war have been signed and ratified by Her Majesty's Government ; which have been signed but not ratified ; which have not been signed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad [pursuant to the reply 15 December 1992 c. 87] : The date given was incorrect. The United Kingdom signed both additional protocols on 12 December 1977. It has not yet ratified them.
Edinburgh Summit
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government intend to register with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to article 102 of the United Nations charter, the decision of the head of state and Government meeting within the European Council held at Edinburgh on 12 December 1992 concerning certain problems raised by Denmark.
Mr. Garel-Jones [pursuant to his reply 13 January 1993 c. 758] : The decision is registrable with the United Nations secretariat and will be registered. But the question does not arise until the entry into force of the decision on Denmark, which by virtue of section E is linked to that of the Maastricht treaty itself.
HEALTH
Drug Prescribing
Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 412, what was the percentage increase in the cost of publishing the British National Formulary in 1991-92 compared with 1990-91 ; and what the figure was in real terms using (a) the price index for NHS medicines and (b) the retail prices index.
Dr. Mawhinney : There is no prices index for national health service medicines. The remaining information requested is in the table.
1990-91 Expenditure |1991-92 Expenditure|Percentage increase|Percentage increase
|deflated by the RPI
£ |£
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,191,169 |1,296,320 |8.83 |4.64
Note: The Retail Prices Index (RPI) for the 12 months to March 1992 is 4 per cent.
Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992, Official Report , column 412 , what was the percentage increase in the cost of servicing the prescribing research
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centre at Leeds university in 1991-92 compared with 1990-91 ; and what the figure was in real terms using (a) the prices index for national health service medicines and (b) the retail prices index.Dr. Mawhinney : There is no prices index for national health service medicines. The remaining information requested is in the table.
1990-91 expenditure |1991-92 expenditure |Increase |Increase deflated by
|the RPI
£ |£ |Per cent. |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
328,550 |377,984 |15.05 |10.62
Note: The retail prices index (RPI) for the 12 months to March 1992 is 4 per cent.
Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992, Official Report , column 412 , what was the percentage increase in the cost of the medicines resources centre in 1991-92 compared with the previous year ; and what the figure was in real terms using (a) the prices index for national health service medicines and (b) the retail prices index.
Dr. Mawhinney : There is no prices index for national health service medicines. The remaining information requested is in the table.
1990-91 expenditure |1991-92 expenditure |Increase |Increase deflated by
|the RPI
£ |£ |Per cent. |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
250,000 |275,000 |10.00 |5.77
Note: The retail prices index (RPI) for the 12 months to March 1992 is 4 per cent.
Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 1992, Official Report , column 412 , what was the percentage increase in the cost of supporting the publication and distribution of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin in 1991-92 compared with the previous year in cash and in real terms.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is in the table.
i
1990-91 expenditure |1991-92 expenditure |Per cent. increase |Real terms per cent.
|increase
£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
750,863 |827,305 |10.18 |5.94
Notes:
1. The expenditure figure for 1990-91 includes an amount for the Adverse Drugs Reactions Bulletin which
was discontinued in June 1990.
2. The real terms figure takes into account the RPI figure for the 12 months to March 1992 which is 4
per cent.
Small Rural Hospitals
Mr. Ancram : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out by, or under the auspices of her Department into the medical value and community role of small hospitals in rural areas.
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Epilepsy
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of government funding will be provided for medical research into epilepsy in 1993.
Dr. Mawhinney : Health Departments' recent research expenditure in this field amounts to some £70,000 on a number of projects, of which a small part is to be spent during 1993.
The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology under the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1991-92 the MRC spent £381,000 on research into epilepsy. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research in competition with other applications. Any change in the level of spending during subsequent years will depend on the nature of applications received.
Dentistry
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is planning to maintain the current level of NHS dental services in Cornwall ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is the responsibility of the family health services authority (FHSA) to ensure that local services remain accessible. FHSAs may apply for permission to employ salaried dentists if they consider it necessary to maintain services locally. Approval has recently been given to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA to employ two salaried dentists, who will work from a mobile clinic serving a number of areas in the locality. Anyone who needs help in obtaining national health service dental treatment should contact the FHSA.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses of dental treatment were undertaken in Cornwall in each of the last five years.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is given in the table.
Courses of Dental Treatment in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Family Health Services Authority Year |Adults |Children|Total --------------------------------------------- 1987-88 |229,290 |97,290 |326,580 1988-89 |241,450 |98,220 |339,670 1989-90 |238,716 |101,631 |340,347 1990-91 |237,047 |82,423 |319,470 1991-92 |262,771 |26,810 |289,581 Note: The data for each year are not fully comparable. Changes introduced by the new contract for general dental practitioners on 1 October 1990, mean that most treatment for under 18s is given under capitation arrangements and is therefore no longer separately identified.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received about the provision of national health service dental treatment in Cornwall ; and if she will make a statement.
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Dr. Mawhinney : Since July last year we have received 18 letters from hon. Members about national health service dental treatment in Cornwall and a number from members of the public.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the amount paid to dental practitioners in Cornwall in each of the past five years at constant prices together with the planned level of remuneration for the next three years.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is shown in the table.
Gross payments to general dental practitioners (GDPs) in contract
with Cornwall and Isle of Scilly family health services authority
Financial Year |Cash<1> |At 1991-92 prices<2>
|£ million |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |6.778 |8.946
1988-89 |7.822 |9.623
1989-90 |8.432 |9.734
1990-91 |9.608 |10.272
1991-92 |12.051 |12.051
Notes:
<1>Based on the total of treatment and registration fees (including charges paid by
patients) authorised for payment to GDPs, but excluding additional earnings such as
seniority payments, vocational training allowances, and the direct reimbursement of
business rates. Data for 1987-88 to 1990-91 are taken from Financial Information
System returns and those for 1991-92 are taken from payments scheduled by the
Dental Practice Board.
<2>Adjustment using the gross domestic product deflator.
Levels of GDP remuneration are forecast at national level. For 1992-93, we expect that the average GDP in Great Britain will have a gross income of about £88,000. The levels of gross remuneration for GDPs for 1993-94 and 1994-95 have yet to be determined.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis on which payments for courses of dental treatment, materials and laboratory fees are calculated.
Dr. Mawhinney : Dentists' remuneration for national health service work is set in a process of several stages. The Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) recommends a target average net income (TANI) which it considers dentists should earn from providing NHS general dental services, and the Government decide to accept or amend the recommendation and sets the TANI.
The dental rates study group (DRSG) then forecasts the level of dentists' expenses (including materials and laboratory costs) for the coming year and adds this figure to the TANI to produce target average gross income (TAGI). TAGI is modified, if necessary, to take account of under or over-payments of net income arising from an earlier year to produce the sum due to the average dentist. Finally, the DRSG forecasts the amount of NHS work that dentists will undertake in the coming year and sets the scale of individual payments and fees, taking account of the report of its laboratory and materials joint working party, that will, given the forecast amount of work, deliver the TAGI sum due to the average dentist.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in Cornwall have (a) restricted the number of new NHS patients they will take on or (b) opted out of NHS dental treatment in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.
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Dr. Mawhinney : Information about the number of dental practices restricting the numbers of new national health service patients is not available centrally. Dentists are independent contractors and, as such, are free to accept or refuse patients for NHS treatment. They may also practise privately, wholly or in part, if they wish. Since July 1992, one dentist out of a total of 145 dentists as at 30 June 1992 in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA, has asked for their name to be removed from the dental list.
Includes dentists who may also have a contract with another FHSA in addition to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA.
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of children registered with general dental practitioners.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is for family health services authorities, working with district health authorities, to take action to encourage children to be registered with a dentist. The dental contract, introduced in 1990, encourages raised awareness and a more preventative approach to dentistry. As at November 1992, there were 7.3 million children in England registered with a General Dental Practitioner--two thirds of all children in England.
Dentistry
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many nursing mothers received dental treatment in 1990-91 and 1991-92 ; and what was the average cost per patient ;
(2) how many pregnant women received dental treatment in 1990-91 and 1991- 92 ; and what was the average cost per patient.
Dr. Mawhinney : The number of courses of dental treatment for nursing mothers in England in 1991-92 was 666,816, with an average cost per course of treatment of £46.01. The number of courses of dental treatment for pregnant women in 1991-92 was 453,467, with an average cost per course of treatment was £33.78.
Figures for 1990-91 are not available.
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost per adult patient for each course of dental treatment in 1990- 91 and 1991-92.
Dr. Mawhinney : The average cost per adult patient for each course of national health service treatment in 1990-91 was £35.58 and in 1991 -92 it was £36.11.
Brockhall Hospital
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps were taken to set aside the terms of the lease of land at Brockhall hospital in East Lancashire which stipulated that the land and everything on it would revert to the freeholder in the event of Brockhall hospital being closed.
Mr. Sackville : The Secretary of State has no power to override the restrictive covenant attached to the leasehold interest in this land which comprises residential property, attached to Brockhall hospital. Following counsel's opinion, the regional health authority has reached a negotiated settlement with the freeholder giving security of tenure to the tenants and the health authority a full share in any redevelopment.
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Hospital Freehold
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list (a) those hospitals in England where the freehold title lies other than with the NHS and (b) those hospitals that will revert to the freeholder when they are no longer used for health purposes.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not held centrally. National health service property is managed by NHS trusts, or by health authorities on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Migrants (Mental Health)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is held by his Department concerning the incidence of mental health problems amongst migrants, particularly refugees and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa, who are settled in Greater London.
Mr. Yeo : District health authorities are responsible for assessing the mental health needs of their populations, including immigrants, and for providing necessary services. The Department does not, therefore, routinely collect statistics or other information on the incidence of mental disorders among immigrant populations. Departmental officials are in discussion with the Somali counselling project about its work among the Somalian community.
Disabled People
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated by her Department to date in publicising the Children Act 1989 and the relevant guidance notes amongst organisations of and for disabled people.
Mr. Yeo : Expenditure on publicising the Children Act 1989 and associated guides was :
|£
------------------------------
1989-90 |3,863
1990-91 |86,007
1991-92 |806,271
1992-93 |<1>85,756
<1> Estimated.
Information on publicity material that may have been sent to or requested by disabled people or organisations for the disabled is not available centrally.
Breast and Cervical Cancer
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that more resources are allocated for mobile units for the screening of breast and cervical cancer ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The bulk of cervical screening is performed in general practitioner surgeries or community and family planning clinics. Special facilities are therefore not necessary.
Between 1987 and 1990, the Government provided £70 million in the United Kingdom (£55 million in England) to set up and run the breast screening programme including
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the purchase of equipment. Current funding to meet the costs of the breast screening programme is built into health authority allocations and they should implement their breast screening programmes within the overall money allocated to them. It is for health authorities to determine whether additional resources should be made available for screening services in the light of local needs and priorities.Abortion
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has regarding the prevalence of the practice of screening women prior to abortion for chlamydia.
Mr. Sackville : Information about levels of chlamydia screening is not available centrally. The decision whether or not to offer such screening prior to abortion is one for the doctor concerned.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases of abortion, in the last year for which figures are available, it was necessary to provide blood transfusions to the mother.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not collected centrally.
Care Beds
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities have no continuing care beds.
Mr. Yeo : Information collected by the Department on numbers of geriatric beds does not separately identify those used for continuing care. Health authorities are responsible for purchasing services to meet the needs of frail elderly patients, including continuing care for those who require it.
Care Homes
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities are providing incontinence services for people in residential care homes on the same basis as people living in their own homes ; and whether a charge is made.
Mr. Yeo : The information requested is not held centrally.
Elderly People (Housing Transfers)
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities have transferred or propose to transfer all or some of their elderly persons homes to a housing trust or association ; how many homes are involved out of the total number in each local authority ; and to which housing trusts or associations the homes have been or are proposed to be transferred.
Mr. Yeo : This information is not collected centrally.
Voluntary Organisations (Assistance)
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 will be made available through
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Liverpool health authority in 1993-94 to agencies dealing with psychiatric patients, mentally ill patients and mental handicap patients ;(2) if she will list the Liverpool agencies which under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 were funded in 1992-93 ; how much each received ; how many patients they care for ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : Grants made by the Department under the section 64 general scheme are almost entirely to assist with the central administrative costs of, or to support a national project run by, a national voluntary organisation.
Health authorities also have powers to make grants under section 64. Information on such grants is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Liverpool health authority for details.
Dentures
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of dentures supplied in the most recent year for which figures are available ; what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years ; and what figures she has for upper and lower dentures.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is given in the table.
Synthetic Metal dentures
dentures
Year |Upper |Lower |Total |total
------------------------------------------------------------
1981 |998,390 |730,000 |1,728,390|113,740
1982 |1,052,330|780,280 |1,832,610|136,550
1983 |1,038,180|769,860 |1,808,040|143,230
1984 |1,028,130|756,960 |1,785,090|154,330
1985 |1,058,050|789,300 |1,847,350|172,040
1986-87 |1,007,900|742,170 |1,750,070|200,210
1987-88 |1,010,130|736,670 |1,746,800|199,400
1988-89 |1,037,700|760,560 |1,798,260|206,830
1989-90 |883,680 |625,890 |1,509,570|193,700
1990-91 |- |- |1,457,648|195,814
1991-92 |- |- |1,536,286|199,958
Notes:
Data for 1981 to 1985 are given in calendar years. Data for
1986-87 to 1991-92 are given in financial years.
Separate figures for upper and lower synthetic dentures are
not available for 1990-91 and 1991-92. Separate figures for
upper and lower metal dentures are not available for any of
the years quoted.
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and suggestions her Department has given to those managing community care in local authorities as to how best to appraise the effectiveness and efficiency of the services they provide.
Mr. Yeo : Local authorities and their senior social services are responsible for monitoring the services they provide. This has been strengthened with the introduction of arms-length inspection units and statutory complaints procedures both of which can contribute to quality control. They also draw on the advice, guidance and help offered by the Department. In particular, the social services inspectorate makes available its inspection reports to the authorities concerned and offers guidance on good practice. The Audit Commission has an important role in assessing the cost effectiveness of local authority provision and in drawing the attention of individual authorities to their responsibilities that need to be managed more
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effectively. Also, the local authority performance indicator package issued by the Audit Commission on 15 December 1992 should ensure that the public will increasingly be able to judge the effectiveness and efficiency of a wide range of local authority services.NHS Drugs
Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost to the national health service of prescribed but unused drugs.
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