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(a) are aged 18 and under 60 ; and
(b) have been continuously unemployed for at least 26 weeks. The Programme is also open to certain other groups who are not registered as unemployed. A full list of those other groups is attached at Annex A.
Participants in JTP follow individually tailored programmes of training and practical workplace based experience and have the opportunity to acquire vocational qualifications.
Participants on JTP receive a training allowance equivalent to their normal Social Security benefit plus a premium of £10.00 per week.
To be eligible for the Action for Community Employment (ACE) Scheme applicants must satisfy the following three conditions :
(i) be at least 18 and under 64 years ;
(ii) have been unemployed without a break for at least 3 months immediately before starting on an ACE project ; and
(iii) have been unemployed for at least 12 months out of the last 15 months.
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Exceptions to condition (iii) are listed in Annex B.Each ACE employee will spend on average 20 per cent. of their time in training. Training seeks to address two levels of need--training for the ACE job and training for future employment.
All ACE workers are paid the local rate for the job, subject to normal deductions such as National Insurance and income tax. There are no substantive changes planned for either JTP or ACE during 1993-94. However the Agency is currently piloting a single integrated scheme called Jobskills which could eventually replace both the Job Training Programme and the Youth Training Programme. I hope that this information is of help.
Annex A Eligibility for job training programme Special groups of unemployed people for whom exemptions to the normal 6 months unemployment conditions are applicable :
(a) People with disabilities (registered or unregistered). (
(b) Single (lone) parents.
(c) Ex-regular members of HM Forces.
(d) Returners to the labour market.
(e) People interested in business start-up or other enterprise training.
(f) People wishing to train in skills that are in short supply. (
(g) Employees who have been made redundant.
(h) People who need literacy and/or numeracy training.
Annex B Eligibility for action for community employment (ACE) scheme Exceptions to the conditions that a person must have been unemployed for at least 12 months out of the last 15 months. (
(a) Unemployed 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for over 6 months.
(b) Young people who have been recently on the Youth Training Programme may count up to a maximum: of 3 months full time training on the programme as unemployment with the balance of the 6 months to be made up of normal unemployment.
(c) Adults who have recently been on the Job Training Programme or at a course at a Training Centre or in Enterprise Ulster may count all of the time spent as unemployment.
(d) Registered disabled people need only have been unemployed for at least 6 out of the last 12 months. They are also permitted to remain in ACE for 18 months instead of the usual 12 months.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the most recent information he has on the destination of people who leave action for community employment and the job training programme ; how many leavers got jobs, became unemployed or went on to further training ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. S. Crozier to Ms Clare Short, dated 22 February 1993 :
You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for information on the destination of people who leave Action for Community Employment and the Job Training Programme ; and how many leavers got jobs, became unemployed or went on to further training. As the Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency which has executive responsibility for these matters I have been asked to reply.
The most recent information available on the destination of people who left the Action for Community Employment scheme is based on a sample survey for the period 1 April 1992
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to 31 January 1993. This shows that 28 per cent. moved into employment, 2 per cent. into further education or training, and 70 per cent. into unemployment. A full survey in 1991 showed 35 per cent. moving into employment, 4 per cent. into education and training and 61 per cent. into unemployment.Over the period 1 April 1992 to 31 January 1993 in the Job Training Programme 29 per cent. of leavers moved into employment, 16 per cent. into further education or training and 55 per cent. into unemployment.
Electricity Works
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the nature and cost of major works carried out by Northern Ireland Electricity in the constituency of Newry and Armagh within the last 12 months.
Mr. Atkins : Major works carried out by Northern Ireland Electricity in the constituency of Newry and Armagh in the last 12 months were :
(i) New substation adjacent to Drumalane Playing Fields--£347,000. (
(ii) Strengthening of system to substation at Carnbane Industrial Estate-- £50,000.
(iii) System improvements in Camlough area (continuing)--£195,000)
Newry and Armagh
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the unemployment rates in each ward within the constituency of Newry and Armagh, or such relevant statistics as are available, for each of the last 12 months.
Mr. Atkins : Whilst unemployment rates are not available at ward level, current and historical information on the actual number of unemployed by age and duration of unemployment for each ward within the constituency of Newry and Armagh is available from the NOMIS database, which can be accessed on-line by House of Commons Library staff.
Travellers
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to public funds of the "With Not For" conference for travelling people on Monday 30 March 1992 ; and how many civil servants, district council officers, area health board officers, area education board officers and housing executive officers attended this conference.
Mr. Atkins : The total cost to public funds of the "With Not For" conference for travelling people was £18,604.87.
A total of 160 delegates attended the conference, including 13 civil servants, 18 district council officers, 13 area health board officers, three area education board officers and two Northern Ireland Housing Executive officers.
Motoring Offences
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the number of motoring offences, by category, which incur a fixed penalty and the amount of the penalty in each case.
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Mr. Atkins : At present there are 153 offences which may be discharged by the payment of a fixed penalty. These have been broadly grouped in the table.
Category |Number of offences
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Speeding |2
Obstruction-waiting-parking |21
Pedestrian crossings |8
Lighting |19
Others |10
2. Vehicle or parts-dangerous condition |46
Noise |6
Neglect traffic directions |5
Miscellaneous |9
3. Driving licence-vehicle test certificate |4
Goods vehicle-PSV offences |6
Motor cycles |5
Length and width |3
Weight and load |9
Each offence currently carries a penalty of £20.
Disabled Employees
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to the report from the Comptroller and Auditor-General for Northern Ireland on the training and employment of disabled people ; what action he will be taking ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Alfred Morris, dated 18 February 1993 :
You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consideration he has given to the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland on the Training and Employment of disabled people, what action he will be taking and if he will make a statement.
As Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) (T and EA), I have responsibility for the services on which the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland has reported.
We have carefully considered the report. We have noted, amongst other things, the acknowledgement of the improvements made since the Agency reorganised its services to people with disabilities in January 1991.
The Agency is determined to maintain this improvement in its services available to disabled people and is drawing up a programme of further action to this end.
Employment Statistics
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current percentage employment in the Belfast Education and Library board of Protestants and Roman Catholics in the various grades ; and what are the corresponding figures in the 1981 and 1991 census returns covering the Belfast travel-to-work area.
Mr. Hanley : The information is as follows :
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1. Belfast Education and Library Board Staff-1 January 1992
(extracted from the Belfast Education and Library Board's Fair Employment review.)
(a) Headquarters
Job Title Total numbProtestant Roman Catholic Non-Determined
staff
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Executive )
Head of Department )
Senior Assistant Education Officer ) |24 |17 |70.84 |5 |20.83 |2 |8.33
Education Officer )
Assistant Advisory Officer )
Adviser )
Principal Psychologist )
Senior Psychologist ) |13 |6 |46.16 |5 |38.46 |2 |15.38
Psychologist )
Professional Architectural Posts |31 |18 |58.06 |11 |35.49 |2 |6.45
Chief Education Welfare Officer )
Divisional Education Welfare Officer ) |25 |12 |48.00 |13 |52.00 |- |-
Education Welfare Officer )
Senior School Meals Organiser )
School Meals Organiser ) |7 |5 |71.43 |- |- |2 |28.57
Peripatetic School Meals Organiser )
Youth Officer ) |6 |3 |50.00 |3 |50.00 |- |-
Divisional Youth Officer )
Principal Officer ) |7 |5 |71.42 |1 |14.29 |1 |14.29
Assistant Principal Officer )
Senior Administrative Officer |6 |4 |66.67 |2 |33.33 |- |-
Administrative Officer |8 |7 |87.50 |1 |12.50 |- |-
Senior Executive Officer |12 |6 |50.00 |4 |33.33 |2 |16.67
Executive Officer |33 |20 |60.61 |12 |36.36 |1 |3.03
Senior Clerical Officer |56 |18 |32.14 |34 |60.71 |4 |7.15
Clerical Officer )
Clerk Typist )
Telephonist/Receptionist ) |61 |33 |54.1 |23 |37.7 |5 |8.2
Comptometer Operator )
Technician/Assistant Technician )
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(b) Library Headquarters
Grade Total numbProtestant Roman Catholic Non-Determined
staff
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Librarian )
Assistant Chief Librarian ) |6 |3 |50.00 |1 |16.67 |2 |33.33
Senior Librarian PO1-7 )
Librarian PO1 2-5 )
Librarian AP5 ) |22 |13 |59.09 |8 |36.36 |1 |4.55
Assistant Librarian AP3/4 )
Senior Library Assistant (i) )
Senior Library Assistant (ii) ) |76 |41 |53.95 |30 |39.47 |5 |6.58
Library Assistant )
Administration/Technical |8 |5 |62.5 |3 |37.5 |- |-
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(C) Library - Branches
Total numbProtestantf Roman Catholic Non-determined
[NL] |Grade |Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Librarian PO1 2-5 ) |2 |1 |50.00 |1 |50.00 |- |-
Librarian AP5/SO1 )
Assistant Librarian |14 |5 |35.72 |8 |57.14 |1 |7.14
Senior Library Assistant II |18 |6 |33.33 |9 |50.00 |3 |16.67
Library Assistant |54 |29 |53.70 |21 |38.89 |4 |7.41
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(D) School-based Staff
Grade Total numbProtestant Roman Catholic Non-Determined
staff
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AECP and T; includes nursery assistant
clerical and technical grades |470 |196 |41.70 |232 |49.36 |42 |8.94
A and G staff, IE )
Caretakers/cleaners ) |1,552 |634 |40.85 |755 |48.65 |163 |10.50
Security posts )
Porter )
School meals |616 |268 |43.51 |302 |49.02 |46 |7.47
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(E) Further education (non-teaching)
Grade Total numbProtestant Roman Catholic Non-determined
staff
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ancillary (eg cleaners, porters, tradesmen
etc) |144 |103 |71.53 |29 |20.14 |12 |8.33
Administration/technical |166 |92 |55.42 |64 |38.56 |10 |6.02
Typist )
Telephonist ) |50 |28 |56.00 |16 |32.00 |6 |12.00
Receptionist )
Clerical )
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(F) Further Education (Teaching Permanent)
Grade Total numbProtestant Roman Catholic Non-Determined
staff
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lecturer |395 |204 |51.64 |140 |35.44 |51 |12.92
Senior Lecturer |150 |89 |59.33 |46 |30.67 |15 |10.00
Principal Lecturer |27 |15 |55.56 |7 |25.92 |5 |18.52
Head of School |18 |11 |61.11 |5 |27.78 |2 |11.11
Vice-Principal |4 |2 |50.00 |- |- |2 |50.00
2. Economically active population (aged 16 and over)
in the Belfast travel-to-work area
(Supplied by the Census Office,
Department of Health and Social Services)
|1981 |1991
|Per cent.|Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Roman Catholic |18.05 |24.80
Protestant and others<1> |63.78 |60.00
Answered none'<2> |- |6.79
Did not answer religion question |18.17 |8.41
<1>A very small proportion of this category were members of
non-Christian religions.
<2>This was a new category introduced in the 1991 Census.
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Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the percentages of the working population in Northern Ireland of Protestants and Roman Catholics and others derived from the 1981 and 1991 census returns.
Mr. Hanley : The information, in relation to the economically active population aged 16 and over, is as follows :
?
|1981 |1991
|per cent.|per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Roman Catholic |25.70 |35.00
Protestant and Others<1> |56.28 |53.02
Answered "None"<2> |- |4.69
Did not answer religion question |18.02 |7.29
<1> A very small proportion of this category represented
members of non-Christian religions.
<2> This was a new category introduced in the 1991 Census.
HEALTH
GP Fund Holders
13. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in spreading the effects of the GP fund-holding initiative in Dorset to patients of GPs who are not fund holders.
Dr. Mawhinney : General practitioner fund holders are achieving real benefits for their patients by innovative and sensitive purchasing of health care. District health authorities can reflect the standards set by fund holders in contracting for the patients of other GPs. In Dorset this is being achieved through the Dorset Health Commission, set up by the Wessex regional health authority, which is taking account of all GP's views, including fund holders, in developing purchasing plans.
18. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the GP fund-holding scheme to smaller practices.
Dr. Mawhinney : The minimum list size criteria for general practitioner fund holders is being lowered from 9,000 to 7,000 from 1 April 1993. We are enabling smaller practices to join either by linking with another practice, or through an agency arrangement with their local family health services authority or district health authority.
21. Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that patients on waiting lists of fund- holding and non-fundholding GPs are treated equally.
Dr. Mawhinney : Guidance agreed with the joint consultants committee was issued to hospital consultants in June 1991. It set out the criteria for contracts between general practitioner fund holders and all national health service hospitals, and clearly states that common waiting lists should be used and the fund holders should not be offered contracts which would disadvantage other patients.
23. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of how GPs' interest in the fund-holding initiative has changed since the scheme began.
Dr. Mawhinney : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Sir R. Moate) earlier today.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the 1992-93 budget allocation by region and family health service authority for hospital costs generated by general practitioner non-fund holders for those parts of the hospital and community health services that a general practitioner fund holder would have had allocated funds.
Dr. Mawhinney : Regions give allocations to district health authorities on the basis of their resident population and not in relation to the number of non-fundholding general practitioners within the district. Furthermore
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district health authorities and family health services authorities are not usually coterminous. Information is not therefore available in the form requested.Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 February, Official Report, column 752, what steps she has taken to ensure that the joint guidance issued to hospital consultants on general practitioner fund holding is being properly enforced ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : We remain committed to the principles set out in the guidance. Providers should not offer contracts to one purchaser which would disadvantage the patients of another, and common waiting lists should apply for urgent and serious conditions. Equally, we stand by the principle that purchasers, both fund holders and district health authorities, should be able to purchase spare capacity if this becomes available. Regional health authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance with the guidance.
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to her answer of 17 February, Official Report, column 203, what reasons underlie the different treatment of general practitioner fund holders and non-fund holders for sessions for tests and minor surgery.
Dr. Mawhinney : Fundholding and non-fundholding general practitioners are not being treated differently. Regulations have been changed to allow fund holders to receive remuneration from the fund for treating their own patients, putting them in the same position as non-fund holders, who may already provide these services under contract to district health authorities.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by region the allocation, for general practitioner fund holders in 1992-93, for prescribing.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is in the table.
GP fund holder prescribing budgets, England 1992-93 First and second wave fundholders combined, in actual cost Region |£ Million -------------------------------------- Northern |26.1 Yorkshire |40.1 Trent |33.5 East Anglian |9.2 North West Thames |21.9 North East Thames |10.4 South East Thames |15.7 South West Thames |20.1 Wessex |21.8 Oxford |26.6 South Western |22.3 West Midlands |34.6 Mersey |26.7 North Western |19.3
Tomlinson Report
14. Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she has instituted on the effects on health care in London of implementing the Tomlinson report.
Dr. Mawhinney : We have announced our response to the Tomlinson report in the policy document "Making
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London Better", after fully considering the evidence both in the report and in other studies. We have accepted the need for radical change and our policy will deliver the high-quality health service Londoners need.Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the recommendations in the Tomlinson report which were not accepted.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Government have accepted the key principles of the Tomlinson report and 96 of its 106 recommendations. The Government's full proposals for improving London's health services are set out in "Making London Better".
Hospitals (Costs)
15. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received suggesting national health service hospitals will be taking action to cut costs by reducing patient care during the current financial year.
Mr. Sackville : My colleagues and I have received and responded to correspondence from a range of sources concerning this.
There is no reason why hospitals should not be able to plan their activity over the whole year, without cost cutting. We are spending more on health and treating more patients than ever before.
Removal of Children (Essex)
16. Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with Essex social services regarding their actions in removing children from their natural parents ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : I have been in contact with the chairman of Essex social services committee and discussions have taken place between the chief inspector of the social services inspectorate and the director of social services about two cases in which children in Essex were removed from their natural parents, one in 1989, the other last year. The local authority were asked to review current child care cases and consider what other action is necessary for the future.
Primary Health Care (London)
17. Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her proposals for improving primary health care in London.
Mr. Sackville : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government's proposals for London's health services, including primary care, on 17 February. We are setting in place a major programme to develop higher-quality, more accessible primary health services at local level. Our aim is to bring primary care in London up to the high standards found elsewhere in the country and to equip it to face the challenges and opportunities of health care provision in the 21st century.
Children Act 1989
19. Mr. Sims : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue further guidance to local authorities on the operation of the Children Act 1989 in the light of the report on the first year of the Act's implementation.
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Mr. Yeo : We have no immediate plans to do so, but we are keeping under review the Children Act guidance and will issue more as and when the need arises.
International Adoption
20. Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further discussions she intends to have with adoption agencies about international adoption ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : We will continue to discuss international adoption issues with adoption agencies as necessary, as part of our normal contact with them.
Out-patient Appointments
22. Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards reaching patients charter targets for waiting times for out-patient appointments.
Mr. Sackville : Under the patients charter, health authorities have already set and published local charter standards for first out-patient appointments. We shall develop these standards further in 1993-94.
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