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Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests and studies his Department has carried out with the United States of America with regard to (a) the incapacitating agent BZ and (b) binary nerve gases ; what was the aim of these tests and studies ; and when these tests and studies were carried out.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment (CBDE) under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 15 February 1993.
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what tests and studies his Department has carried out with the United States of America with regard to (a) the incapacitating agent BZ and (b) binary nerve gases ; what was the aim of these tests and studies ; and when these tests and studies were carried out (Question 22, Order Paper, 5 February 1993) has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. I would refer you to my letter to you of 10 August 1992 in answer to your Parliamentary Question asking how many tests had been carried out since 1967 involving the incapacitating agent BZ and British Service personnel, when these tests were carried out, whether all the personnel were volunteers and whether BZ is currently stocked by any of his Departments, Establishments (Question 32, Order Paper, 14 July 1992). In that reply I said that the role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton down is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. This work involved the evaluation of the potential hazard of possible agents such as the incapacitating agent BZ. No tests and studies have been carried out with the United States of America with regard to the incapacitating agent BZ.
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3. In respect of binary nerve gases, I would refer you to the answer by the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Mr. Jonathan Aitken, MP of 16 July 1992, Official Report column 936 which indicated that research information had been changed on a continuing basis on the potential hazard from chemical and biological agents including VX nerve gas and possible binary gases with the aim of ensuring that the protective measures for the United Kingdom Armed Forces are as effective as possible. No tests and studies have been carried out on binary nerve gases with the United States of America.Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the United Kingdom exchanged information about its research into CR gas with the United States of America.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment (CBDE) under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 15 February 1993.
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him when the United Kingdom exchanged information about its research into CR gas with the United States of America (Question 29, Order Paper 5 February 1993) has been passed to me to reply to as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. I would refer you to my letter to you of 10 August 1992 in answer to your Parliamentary Question asking what information about defence research into CR gas the United Kingdom has passed to the United States of America, under which defence agreement this information was exchanged and when the information was transferred (Question 36, Order Paper 14 July 1992). In my letter of 10 August 1992, I stated that research into CR commenced in 1962 at the then Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down. The information gained in the research programme during the subsequent years has formed part of the chemical and biological defence programme and has been the subject of information exchange and collaboration with the United States Department of Defence on a continuing basis.
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many patents the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down has filed since 1962 ; and what are the numbers of each of these patents.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment (CBDE) under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 15 February 1993.
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many patents the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has filed since 1962 and what are the numbers of each of these patents (Question 32, Order Paper 5 February 1993) has been passed to me to reply to as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. The number of patents filed by this Establishment and its precursors, the Chemical Defence Establishment and the
Microbiological Research Establishment, since 1962 is 63 and their numbers are as follows :
Number |Number |Number -------------------------------------------- 1173142 |1538056 |2081744 1206581 |1512536 |2072873 1571799 |1558183 |2074995 1149042 |1571799 |2103564 1310011 |1530714 |2113672 1301101 |1567606 |2164327 1341550 |4228598 |2187725 1206340 |1487612 |2183207 1376888 |1558153 |2223411 1340343 |1588442 |2203543 1360277 |1588441 |2212149 1429476 |2014452 |2229527 1415664 |2015531 |2229526 1605289 |2021594 |2231404 1478463 |2042099 |2239740 1605296 |2042100 |2224114 1438651 |2025006 |2222370 1456231 |2048052 |2225251 1464368 |2062929 |2257017 1476761 |2134228 |US 5082540 1487611 |2059677 |2252323
Several other patent applications are still being processed.
Arms Transfers
193. Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's staff have been allocated to prepare the United Kingdom submission to the United Nations register of arms transfers ; what additional costs have been incurred in preparing the submission ; and by what date Her Majesty's Government intend to submit the report to the United Nations.
Mr. Aitken : No staff have been specifically allocated to the preparation of the British contribution to the United Nations register ; the work will be accommodated within existing responsibilities and budgets. On the third point, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 February at column 373.
Challanger Tanks
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many powerpacks had to be changed in Challenger I tanks during the Gulf operation ; who that powerpack differs from the one in Challenger II ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : A total of 279 powerpacks were changed during the deployment of Challenger I to the Gulf. The majority of engine failures were caused by dust ingestion.
The Challenger II powerpack comprises of CV12 engine coupled to a TN54 gearbox which has six instead of the four forward ratios of the Challenger I gearbox. The powerpack, which is controlled by a new digital automotive system control unit, represents a significant improvement in reliability. In addition to a totally new main engine cleaner design, numerous reliability modifications have been embodied in the engine and the gearbox.
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he made to the request of the manufacturers for the release of a Challenger II battle tank in order to seek to win the Swedish Army order.
Mr. Aitken : Vickers Defence Systems made no request for the release of a Challenger II prototype in order to participate in the Swedish competition.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been achieved in the plans announced in June 1991 for an upgrade programme on the Challenger 1 fleet.
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Mr. Aitken : A detailed study has been undertaken by Vickers Defence Systems and this is now under evaluation by the Department. A range of options is being considered.
Market Testing
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department are assigned to the market testing programme ; how much the programme has cost his Department since November 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Market testing is being handled as part of the Department's devolved management strategy. Its central market testing service, which offers advice and assistance to managers, currently comprises nine officials
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at an annual cost in salaries and ERNIC of about £260,000. Conduct of the market testing programme is the responsibility of the management areas themselves : some staff are dedicated to market testing but most carry out this function as part of their normal duties. It is not practicable to identify staff numbers or costs without incurring disproportionate cost.Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1991 ; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out ; what was the name of the succesful contractor where appropriate ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The information requested is as follows :
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Activity |Result |Successful
|contractor
|In-house/Contractorized
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RN Simulator helicopter control operations
Royal Naval Air Station Portland |Contract |Hunting Aircraft Ltd.
Works Services Management,
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose |Contract |PSA Building Management, South West
Food Distribution in BAOR |Contract |NAAFI
Freight Services
BAOR |Contract |Edmond Depaire
Air Weapon Ranges,
RAF Cowden Retained in house
RAF Holbeach |Contract |Assessment Services Ltd.
Engineering and Supply/Multi-activity
RAF Scampton |Contract |Hunting Aircraft Ltd.
Recruitment exhibition production,
RAF Henlow |Contract |Serco Ltd.
Elementary Flying Training School,
RAF Topcliffe |Contract |Hunting Aircraft Ltd.
Aircraft Support Services-A&AEE,
Boscombe Down Retained in-house
Catering
Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton |Contract |ARA Services Plc
HMS Drake, Devonport |Contract |RCO Support Services Ltd.
Engineering and other activities
Ground radio/radar maintenance,
Royal Naval Air Station, Portland |Contract |Hunting Aircraft Ltd.
Parachute servicing |Contract |Irvin G.B.
Andover aircraft maintenance |Contract |FLS Aerospace (Lovaux)
Wessex helicopter maintenance,
RAF Shawbury |Contract |Serco Ltd.
Engineering support
No. 60 Squadron RAF |Contract |FLS Aerospace (Lovaux)
Printing services
BAOR |Contract |HMSO
Helicopter maintenance and engineering at
Royal Naval Air Stations Yeovilton,
Culdrose and Portland |Contract |Hunting Aircraft Ltd.
Aircraft maintenance
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton |Contract |Hunting Aircraft Ltd.
Guarding at Abbey Wood site
Bristol |Contract |Chubb Wardens Ltd.
Reconnaissance Visits to Bristol new site |Contracts |Property Spectrum
|Peter Carol Coaches
|Bristol Moat House
|Bristol Hilton
|Swallow Royal Hotel
|British Rail
Property Management
Central London |Contract |Planned Maintenance Engineering Ltd.
Escorts for School Children's Visits |Contract |Universal Aunts Ltd.
Invergordon Depot
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards the disposal of his Department's fuel depot and pier facilities at Invergordon, with particular reference to the likely time scale involved.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Bids for the surplus oil fuel depot Invergordon complex are under consideration following competitive tender action in October 1992 and in the light of subsequent negotiations. We hope to be able to announce a decision soon.
Submarines
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects each of the Upholder class of submarines to enter service with the Royal Navy ; what is the final cost estimate for each Upholder class submarine ; what general plans he has for deployment of the submarines ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : HMS Upholder was accepted by the Royal Navy in December 1990 and re-entered service, following completion of modifications to her weapon handling and discharge systems (WHDS), last month. HMS Unseen and HMS Ursula were accepted by the Royal Navy in July 1991 and June 1992, respectively and are due to have their WHDS modifications carried out later this year, allowing them to re-enter service in early 1994. Unicorn is planned to enter service, with WHDS modifications already incorported, this summer. For commercial reasons, it is not our practice to disclose the cost of individual warships. The overall programme cost is however, expected to be similar in real terms to that shown in table 3.2 volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991." It is not our practice to disclose details of the operational deployment of Royal Navy submarines.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for sale of Upholder class submarines ; and what discussions he has had with the Government of Canada about such sales.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No decisions affecting Upholder class submarines have been taken.
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Wizard Generator
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to upgrade the Wizard generator at RAF Edzell ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A contract has been placed to refurbish power generation at RAF Edzell and work will begin on the site on 1 March 1993.
Drug Abuse
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total expenditure on drug abuse prevention programmes for the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in each year since 1985, in constant 1992 prices ; and how many people were employed to administer these programmes, in each year since 1985 ;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, columns 373-74, how many service personnel dismissed from the services for drug-related offences were stationed overseas at the time ; and in what countries.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.
Ministry Land
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom Ministry land at Berry Head, Brixham, has been sold ; and if conditions were attached to the sale to ensure that the land will continue to be a refuge for wildlife.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The sale has not yet been completed and the name of the potential purchaser, therefore, remains commercial in confidence. No conditions on future use have been attached by the Ministry of Defence ; however, consultations with the local planning authority clearly indicate that it will strenuously resist development for use other than for agriculture, leisure/amenity or open space.
Composite Signals Organisation Station
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the tendering arrangements for the contract to build an antenna at CSOS Morwenstow.
Mr. Hurd : I have been asked to reply.
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The competitive tender exercise for the procurement of an antenna for the composite signals organisation station Morwenstow was carried out in accordance with the standard Government procurement guidelines. Companies with the relevant capabilities were invited to submit tenders by the end of December 1992.Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the winner of the contract to build an antenna at CSOS Morwenstow.
Mr. Hurd : I have been asked to reply.
The contract should be awarded before the end of February.
HEALTH
District Health Authorities, Manchester
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy with regard to the merger of district health authorities within Greater Manchester ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : We are prepared to consider mergers where they are clearly in the interests of patients.
North Western regional health authority has encouraged district health authorities to form purchasing consortia. From 1 April 1993, the following consortia will operate within Greater Manchester : North, Central and South Manchester and Salford DHAs ;
Oldham and Tameside and Glossop DHAs ;
Bolton and Wigan DHAs ;
Bury and Rochdale DHAs.
Any proposals to merge these, or any, DHAs would be subject to full public consultation.
High Blood Pressure
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service prescriptions were written for products used in the treatment of high blood pressure in each year since 1987 ; and what assessment has been made of the effects of her Department's initiative in encouraging doctors to screen more patients on the number of prescriptions written for these products.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is not possible to calculate to what extent any increase is due to doctors carrying out screening programmes. The remaining information is given in the table.
Products used in the treatment of high blood pressure England (as defined by British National Formulary chapters 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6) Thousands Year |Prescriptions ------------------------------------------ 1987 |51,088.8 1988 |51,860.1 1989 |53,247.0 1990 |54,308.6 1991 |59,626.3 Notes: 1. The data for 1991 is not directly comparable to those for earlier years because of a change in the way in which these data are collected. 2. From January 1991, the data are based on: (a) items. Previously they were based on prescription fees and some items may attract more than one fee. (b) prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and personal administration by doctors. Previously they only covered prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors. 3. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.
Prescriptions
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the extent any increase in the number of NHS prescriptions written so far this year has resulted from her Department's policy of (a) encouraging doctors to carry out screening programmes for certain detectable conditions and (b) requiring doctors to achieve target levels for patients needing vaccination against a variety of various diseases.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is not possible to calculate to what extent any increase is due to these policies.
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are her Department's plans for doctors to indicate on a prescription form, FP10, the diagnosis for which a medicine is being prescribed, other than for a licensed indication ; and how she will be able to protect patient confidentiality ;
(2) what consultations she has held with consumer and patient organisations over her plans for requiring doctors to indicate on the FP10 prescription form the diagnosis for which a particular medicine is being prescribed, in order to meet the requirement of the new terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on NHS drugs.
Dr. Mawhinney : There are no such plans.
London School of Hygiene
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the publications and research projects funded by her Department at the small area statistics unit of the London School of Hygiene.
Dr. Mawhinney : The small area health statistics unit is funded jointly by the Department of Health, the Department of the Environment, the Health and Safety Executive, the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland. A list of the unit's publications and of the research projects completed and in progress will be placed in the Library.
Oral Health
Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the national public expenditure on oral health promotion in the last five years ; and what are the projected figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 ;
(2) how much money in real terms was spent in each of the last five years on oral health promotion in each district.
Dr. Mawhinney : Responsibility for arranging for the provision of dental health education and preventive programmes is for district health authorities. Information on the total cost of such programmes is not available centrally.
Since the publication of the 1987 White Paper "Promoting Better Health", more than £1.8 million has been provided from central funds to support innovative
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local projects. This includes £265,000 in 1992-93. Final decisions about any central funding for 1993-94 have not yet been made.Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total allocation of additional resources she has made to implement the oral health strategy targets in the "Health of the Nation" White Paper in the coming five years ; and when she will publish details of the implementation plan for the strategy.
Dr. Mawhinney : The "Health of the Nation" White Paper does not include oral health strategy targets.
Dentists
Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have deregistered, or have refused to accept for NHS treatment (a) adults, (b) children under 18 years, (c) families with a certificate for full help with cost of NHS services, (d) those in full-time education under 19 years, (e) expectant mothers, (f) mothers with babies up to the age of 12 months and (g) anyone receiving income support or family credit.
Dr. Mawhinney : Between 3 July 1992 and 5 February 1993, 1,586 dentists (of a total of 15,433 at 30 September 1992) gave notice to family health services authorities of their intention to deregister 358,300 (1.74 per cent.) adult patients and 182 dentists gave notice of their intention to deregister 1,196 (less than 1 per cent.) child patients. During this same period there was a net increase of 600,000 in the number of adult registrations. Dentists are independent contractors and are free to accept or refuse patients for national health service treatment. The remaining information requested is not held centrally.
Tobacco Advertising
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints are received, per year, about alleged breaches of the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : The number of alleged breaches referred to the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship since its inception is set out in the table.
Number of alleged breaches of voluntary agreements Year |Number ---------------------- 1987-88 |462 1988-89 |65 1989-90 |168 1990-91 |120 1991-92 |119
Further information is set out in the annual reports of the committee, copies of which are available in the Library.
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Market Testing
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in her Department are assigned to the market testing programme ; how much the programme has cost her Department since November 1991 ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : A market testing unit of two people has been set up to co-ordinate the Department's programme. A number of other staff working within the functional areas affected are spending part of their time on work associated with market testing.
Between November 1991 and the end of March 1993 it is estimated that the programme will have cost in the region of £830,000. This includes consultancy costs, staff costs and associated overheads.
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the market tests that have taken place in her Department since November 1991 ; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out ; what was the name of the successful contractor where appropriate ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : Since November 1991, the market testing of office and building services for the new buildings of Skipton house in London and Quarry house in Leeds (a joint DH/DSS building) has been completed. It has resulted in the award of the following service level agreements or contracts for services which had previously been provided wholly or mainly in-house in the Department's other buildings :
For Skipton house
Facilities management--Procord Ltd
Reception and conference room booking--In-house team
Office support services--In-house team
For Quarry house
Facilities management--P and O TFM Ltd
Office support services--Manpower UK
Blood Donors
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of blood donor donations in each national health service region since 1988 ; and if he will express this figure as a percentage of the population in each region.
Mr. Sackville : The table gives the numberof donations collected in each region from 1988 to 1991 together with the populations which fell into the age band eligible to give blood. The numbers of donors making these donations are not known centrally and so cannot be expressed as a percentage of each region's eligible population.
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Number of blood Population eligible
donations to give blood<1><2>
|1988 |1989 |1990 |1991
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |122,267 |127,275 |124,332 |133,756 |1,887,820
Yorkshire |133,088 |139,147 |144,189 |146,926 |1,949,900
Trent |197,746 |207,713 |189,554 |207,508 |3,097,330
East Anglia |92,195 |91,920 |96,454 |97,758 |1,248,000
North West Thames |192,004 |187,832 |195,357 |214,953 |2,350,220
North East Thames |142,716 |151,786 |118,155 |159,950 |2,215,160
South Thames |282,188 |296,158 |276,028 |306,402 |4,189,360
Wessex |95,484 |104,751 |100,405 |109,169 |1,406,540
Oxford |107,805 |114,415 |122,717 |123,304 |1,709,810
South Western |182,000 |184,195 |177,798 |187,818 |2,205,170
West Midlands |216,485 |231,075 |242,077 |250,688 |3,264,500
Mersey |108,387 |110,931 |109,116 |124,123 |1,698,120
North Western |176,328 |177,200 |183,421 |200,922 |2,824,200
Notes:
<1>The eligible age band for blood donors is 18 to 65 inclusive.
<2>The eligible donor population figures are for 1988, the latest year
available.
Limited List
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies she has commissioned among practising clinicians to look into the clinical implications of extending the limited list to include 10 additional therapeutic categories ; and if she will publish the results ;
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she commissioned among practising clinicians to look into the clinical implications of extending the limited list proposals to 10 additional therapeutic categories ; and whether she intends to publish the results of those studies.
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