| Previous Section | Home Page |
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ask the Committee on Safety of Medicines to change its advice to doctors as given in Bulletin 21 of January 1988 regarding the drugs valium, librium and mogadon, following the ending of the Roche case.
Dr. Mawhinney : None. Current advice strongly emphasises the dangers of dependence with benzodiazepines and advises doctors to limit their use to short-term relief--two to four weeks only--of anxiety and insomnia that is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress. This advice is still appropriate.
London Ambulance Board
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the South West Thames regional health authority appointed Mr. James Harris as the chairman of the
Column 94
London ambulance board ; what are the names of the other members and their dates of appointment ; what are the working hours expected from the chiarman and board members respectively ; and what is the amount and basis of their respective remunerations.Mr. Sackville : Mr. James Harris was appointed chairman of the London ambulance service board by South West Thames regional health authority on 1 March 1990. Current non-executive members of the London ambulance service board appointed on 8 June 1992 are : Mrs. Mary Spinks
Mrs. Janet Preston
Mr. Victor Paige
Mr. Roderick Braithwaite
The chairman is paid £5,000 per annum as a non-executive member of South West Thames regional health authority. In the previous 12-month period, he spent 88 full days undertaking duties on behalf of the regional health authority and the London ambulance service. Non-executive members of the London ambulance board are unpaid but are asked to spend an average of two to three days per month on London ambulance service business.
Head Injuries
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many rehabilitation centres for patients with head injuries there are in England ; which regions they are in ; how many patients they treat a year ; what is the cost per patient ; and how many beds there are in each centre ;
(2) if she will list the private rehabilitation centres for patients with head injuries in England.
Mr. Yeo : The information required is not held centrally. The Department of Health is providing central funding of £1 million per year to 12 model brain injury rehabilitation services in the national health service in England and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 16 January 1992 at columns 625-26 .
Official Entertainment
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on official entertainment in her Department during 1991-92 and 1992-93 to date.
Mr. Sackville : In 1991-92, £168,151 was spent on hospitality. In 1992-93, hospitality expenditure up to the end of January was £197, 529.
Spinal Injuries Units
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in England have spinal injuries units ; which regions they are in ; how many patients they treat a year ; what the cost was per patient ; and how many beds there are in each unit.
Mr. Sackville : There are eight spinal units located in the following regions : Northern ; Yorkshire ; Trent ; North East Thames ; Oxford ; Wessex ; West Midlands ; and Mersey. The remaining information is not held centrally in the form requested. Reported activity levels are available for 1991-92 as shown in the table. The total cost of the service in that year was £22.3 million.
Column 95
Unit |Finished consultant|Total bed days
|episodes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hexham general hospital |227 |10,239
Pinderfields hospital, Wakefield |383 |11,580
Lodge Moor, Sheffield |1,373 |18,617
Royal national orthopaedic hospital,
Stanmore |125 |6,432
Stoke Mandeville hospital, Aylesbury |683 |32,213
Odstock hospital, Salisbury |268 |13,351
R. James and A. Hunt hospital,
Oswestry |317 |14,128
Southport hospital |N/a |N/a
|------- |-------
Total |3,376 |106,560
Repeat Prescriptions
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has as to progress made by family practitioner committees in encouraging the development of repeat prescription control systems, as outlined in "Promoting Better Health : April 1990".
Dr. Mawhinney : General practitioners are required by schedule 13 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations, 1992, to include in their annual reports information on their arrangements for the issue of repeat prescriptions to patients. Guidance to regional health authorities on their corporate contracts with family health service authorities for 1993-94 emphasised that repeat prescribing is a high priority area and encouraged them to set targets for achievement by March 1994. A copy of this guidance has been placed in the Library.
London Ambulance Service
Mr. Wicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases in each year since 1989 the London ambulance service was asked to give evidence at coroners' courts.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Martin Gorham, chief executive of the London ambulance service, for details.
Free Prescriptions
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free prescriptions were dispensed in the year 1991-92 ; what was the figure in 1978-79 ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney [pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1993, c. 162] : I have today laid before the House regulations providing for increases in charges in the national health service in England and Wales, which will take effect on 1 April 1993. The prescription charge will increase by £0.50p, from £3.75 to £4.25 for each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed.
The new prescription charge, which is still significantly less than the average total cost of a single prescription item to the NHS, will only cost the average charge payer an extra £3 a year. A charge of £4.25 per item will raise about £278 million a year for the NHS. In 1991-92 the cost of drugs for family health services was over £2.3 billion.
Column 96
The existing wide-ranging exemption and remission provisions for people who cannot afford prescription charges are unchanged. The rates of prescription pre-payment certificates will rise in line with the increase in prescription charges. These certificates provide extremely good value for money for people who need frequent or extensive medication but are not entitled to free prescriptions. They offer real savings to anyone who requires 15 or more items a year on prescription, or more than five in a four-month period.Some 5 per cent. of all items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors now go to people with prepayment certificates. Prescription charges are paid on a further 15 per cent. When the Government took office in 1979, this figure was 36 per cent. Indeed, 80 per cent. of prescribed items are now dispensed free--more than at any time since prescription charges were re-introduced in 1968.
Charges for elastic stockings and tights, fabric supports and wigs supplied through the hospital service will also be increased from 1 April 1993 by a similar percentage to the rise in the prescription charge.
The patient contribution to the cost of a course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 1993 will be increased from 75 to 80 per cent. The maximum charge for a single course of treatment begun on or after 1 April 1993 will also increase from £225 to £250. I am pleased to announce a 2.75 per cent. average increase in the overall value of optical vouchers from 1 April 1993. The majority of voucher holders will find themselves better off as a result. Concurrently with the regulations for England and Wales, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will lay regulations to increase charges and spectacle voucher values in Scotland by the same amounts. Similar arrangements will apply in Northern Ireland. Details of all the revised charges and increased optical voucher values have been placed in the Library.
NORTHERN IRELAND
ERDF Assistance
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations he has had with Northern Ireland local authorities and other eligible infrastructure-providing bodies concerning the levels of (a) base and (b) supplementary credit approvals with a view to the provision of matching Government funding to maximise successful applications for European regional development fund assistance.
Mr. Atkins : In Northern Ireland the financing of
infrastructure-providing bodies, including local authorities, is not dependent upon the issue of credit approvals and consequently there have been no consultations about the level of such approvals.
Police Interview Notes
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures are involved in the recording, safe-keeping, storage and retrieval of original police interview notes where criminal charges have been brought.
Mr. Mates [holding answer 25 February 1993] : This is a matter for the Chief Constable of the RUC. However, I understand that new procedures have recently been
Column 97
introduced relating to the recording of notes of interviews with persons detained under legislation dealing with terrorism. Loose leaf interview sheets have been replaced with booklets which are electronically dated and time stamped upon issue and upon completion of each interview. Additional measures have been introduced to safeguard the long-term storage and security of these interview notes.Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the Royal Ulster Constabulary to identify the whereabouts of the original police interview notes in the case of prisoner No. 708, HBlock 5, A wing, HMP Maze, Belfast.
Mr. Mates [holding answer 25 February 1993] : This is a matter for the Chief Constable of the RUC. However, Iunderstand that he has already written to the hon. Gentleman about this.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Consultants
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to (a) Coopers and Lybrand management consultants, (b) Touche Ross management consultants, (c) Price Waterhouse management consultants, (d) Ernst and Young management consultants, (e) Chrichton Roberts Ltd., (f) KPMG management consultants and (g) Leopold Joseph management consultants, with the total cost of the contracts for each contractor, for (i) the past 12 months and (ii) 1991-92.
Mr. Eggar : The contracts awarded by the DTI to Coopers and Lybrand management consultants, Touche Ross management consultants, Price Waterhouse management consultants, Ernst and Young management consultants and KPMG management consultants in the periods 1 March 1992 to 17 February 1993 and 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992, with total cost of the contracts for each contractor are listed. No contracts have been awarded to Leopold Joseph management consultants or Chrichton Roberts Ltd.
Ernst and Young--
Contracts issued between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1993 Devon and Cornwall Development Board Review
Service Sector Opportunities for Inward Investment
Analysis of Structure and Activities of European Competitor-Inward Investment Agencies
Statistical Analysis of Foreign Investment in the United Kingdom from 1986- 1991
England--The Investment Opportunity : Revised Brochure
Coal Review 1992 : an Independent Report on the Efficiency of British Coal as an Organisation
Insolvency Service Market Testing
Nuclear Electrics Operations
Separate Studies of INWARD and Yorkshire and Humberside Development Agency
North West Venture Club
Key Location Factors Study
Total cost of contracts----£690,275
Contracts issued between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992 Comparative Advantage Location Study
Study of European Legislation Affecting Businesses
Promotional Material : Electronics
Promotional Material : Automotive Components
Promotional Material : Information Technology
Advanced Robotics Programme Review
Column 98
English Unit Strategy : 1992-93England : Fact File
Total cost of contracts----£384,002
KPMG Management Consulting--
Contracts issued between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1993 Evaluation Review--British Screen Finance Limited
Open Systems Technology Transfer Programme 2
Disc Management Efficiency Study
Identification of Current and Long Term Issues in the Security Market and Policy Implications
Assistance to the London East Training and Enterprise Council in the Development of a Common Standards Programme
Validation of Seven Information Technology Futures Sector Scenario Reports
Teaching Company Scheme (Serc and Cit)
Post Office : Economic/Regulatory Advisers
Production of a Guide to British Companies in the Environmental Field
Literature Searches for Posts and Telecommunications Division Seven Sector Reports on Key Applications for Information Technology
Customer Care Training
Total cost of contracts----£887,785
Contracts issued between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992 New Product Introduction Activities
Wirral Task Office : Enterprise Study
Export Intelligence Review
Open Systems Technology Transfer Programme
Technical Support to the Open Systems Technology Transfer Programme
Education Training Committee Strategy
European Futurewatch
Survey of Electronic Sources of Information on EC Legislation Teaching Company Senior Academics Scheme
Evaluation Review of British Screen Finance Limited
Total cost of contracts----£381,644
Price Waterhouse--
Contracts issued between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1993 Privatisation of BTG
Privatisation of BTG : Portfolio of Technologies
Study of the Possible Privatisation of Parcelforce
ILS : Information Systems Strategy Study
Total cost of contracts----£418,850
Contracts issued between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992 Financial Advisers for BTG Privatisation, Phase II
Market Study : Market Opportunities for Producers of Carpets Inward Investment--Tax Study
Implementation of Fairs and Promotions Branch (FFB) Efficiency Scrutiny Project
TQM Programme for DTI NE
Privatisation of BTG
Privatisation of BTG : Portfolio of Technologies
Total cost of contracts----£1,223,430
Touche Ross & Co--
Contracts issued between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1993 Study of Chloro Fluoro Carbons Usage in Solvents
BNSC Space Telecommunications Strategy
Registry of Information Sources
Neural Computing Awareness Programme
Technology Partnership Initiative
Comparative Study of Freight/Shipping Costs and Services Total cost of contracts----£2,803,480
Contracts issued between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992 Market Opportunities Task Force Policy Study
Speech and Natural Language Programme : Rational Objectives Assessment Monitoring and Evaluation (ROAME)
Knowledge Based Systems Technology Transfer Programme
Technology Transfer in Conservation of Biological Diversity Study
| Next Section
| Home Page |