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Sports Council
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether a new director-general of the Sports Council has been appointed ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Brooke : A final decision on the appointment of a new director- general has not yet been made. The selection process is continuing.
Tourist Attractions
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many visitors were recorded at (a) the Tower of London, (b) Hampton court, (c) the Cutty Sark, Greenwich and (d) the national maritime museum, Greenwich in 1992.
Mr. Sproat : The number of visitors in 1992 were :
|Numbers
--------------------------------------------------------
Tower of London |2,235,199
Hampton Court Palace |580,440
Cutty Sark, Greenwich |304,124
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich |550,608
BBC
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the effect on the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland of changes in the funding of the BBC.
Mr. Brooke : Licence payers in all parts of the United Kingdom will benefit from the licence fee settlement I announced on 4 November, which will allow additional and better programmes.
The BBC is responsible for deciding how to allocate its revenue under the terms of its present royal charter and licence and agreement.
Dame Daphne Park
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what were the qualifications that led to Dame Daphne Park being appointed a governor of the BBC.
Mr. Brooke : It is not normal practice to comment on the reasons for appointing particular individuals to public bodies. The role of the BBC board of governors is to protect the public interest, and its membership reflects the experience and diversity of the country at large.
Arts and Disability
Sir John Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals the Arts Council has to abolish the arts and disability unit ; what advice it received from the Arts Council's arts and disability monitoring committee on this matter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : The Arts Council intends to integrate the work of the units within the council responsible for implementing strategic policy in the fields of cultural diversity, disability, and women in the arts, with the art form departments. Such structural changes are matters for the Arts Council to decide.
Cliveden House
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action his Department is taking over preserving Cliveden house ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Brooke : Cliveden is owned by the National Trust. I understand that the house, which is let as an hotel, has been admirably restored and refurbished by Cliveden Hotel Ltd., which has invested some £10 million in bringing this fine building to its present excellent condition. Sympathetic new uses such as this are essential to bring in the resources needed to preserve the best of our heritage. Some other parts of the estate require major works and for these the National Trust has launched a public appeal. Works to the clock tower have been included in the priority repair programme agreed between English Heritage and the National Trust for 1993- 94 and English Heritage expects to offer substantial grant aid. The National Trust proposes to carry out further works as soon as the success of its appeal allows.
Bush House
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations have been carried out between his Department and the BBC in respect of the BBC World Service lease at its headquarters in Bush house ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : None. This is not a matter on which the Department of National Heritage would expect to be consulted.
EDUCATION
Schools, Chelmsford
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the schools in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency that (a) are grant maintained, (b) have had grant-maintained status approved which is yet to come into force and (c) have not yet sought grant-maintained status ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire : Information on schools by parliamentary constituency is not collected centrally. Relevant information held by the department for schools in Essex local education authority has been placed in the Library.
The benefits of self-government are becoming increasingly clear to governors and parents. This is particularly true in Essex, which already has 114 self-governing schools--more than any other LEA in the country.
Students
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he has taken since incorporation of further education colleges to ensure that student financial support matches the needs of students.
Mr. Boswell : Local education authorities have the power under the Education Act 1962 to make discretionary awards to students on courses of further education in the light of local needs and priorities. They also have duties and powers under the Education Act 1944, as amended by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, to provide free transport and assistance with travel costs to post-16 students.
My right hon. Friend has made it a condition of grant that colleges in the further education sector may not charge tuition fees to home and EC students aged 16 to 18 on
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full-time courses. Many colleges operate concessionary fees for other students. Access funds are disbursed by colleges to help eligible full-time students who are in particular financial difficulties.Students may apply for career development loans from the Employment Department ; and those in employment can look to their employers for assistance.
Further Education Colleges
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the drop-out rate from further education colleges ; and what representations he has received that dropping out is being caused by financial constraints on support for meals and travel.
Mr. Boswell : Information on drop-out rates is not currently collected centrally for colleges in the FE sector. The Audit Commission and Ofsted report "Unfinished Business" estimated that for schools and colleges the drop-out rate for 16 to 18-year-olds on full-time courses was 13 per cent. on courses leading to academic qualifications and 18 per cent. on those leading to vocational qualifications.
We are seeking to reduce drop-out from colleges in a variety of ways : by providing more information to young people to help them make the right choices at 16 ; by improving the range and choice of courses available, including new GNVQs and NVQs which offer high-quality alternatives to GCE A levels ; and by ensuring that funding mechanisms provide an incentive to colleges not only to recruit but to retain more students.
My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters about the duties and powers of LEAs to provide free transport and assistance with travel costs to post-16 students. He has told LEAs that he expects them to monitor the effects of transport policies on participation rates overall and that he will himself keep this aspect of the new arrangements under review.
LEAs' responsibilities to provide free meals do not extend to students in colleges in the new FE sector.
Examination League Tables
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons the school examination league tables, published on 17 November, include information about special schools, including those for children with severe learning difficulties.
Mr. Robin Squire : Special schools are included in secondary school performance tables on the grounds that parents have a right to information on any relevant results, and on rates of unauthorised absence. In successive consultation exercises, last year and this, no organisation representing special needs groups argued that they should be excluded.
Examination Results
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the precise cost of collating the information published on 17 November about school examination results and unauthorised attendance ; and on what dates this information was dispatched from his Department to (a) the national press, (b) schools and (c) local education authorities.
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Mr. Robin Squire : The cost of collecting, processing and collating the comparative information on school and college performance published on 17 and 24 November is estimated at £458,000. The data on secondary school performance were sent to the national press on 15 November, under embargo until 1 am on 17 November, so that they could make the necessary preparations for publication ; and to schools and local education authorities on 16 November so that they would receive it on the day in question.
Nursery Education
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost of providing nursery places for all three and four-year- olds whose parents want it.
Mr. Robin Squire : The cost would depend on the types of provision, the balance between full-time and part-time attendance and the numbers of parents who chose to take up a nursery place. Currently, some 53 per cent. of three and four-year-olds in England are in some form of full-time or part-time schooling. We estimate that the average annual recurrent unit cost for a full-time equivalent pupil aged under five in the maintained sector is £1,770 at 1993-94 prices. In addition, there would be capital and teacher training costs.
Sustainable Development
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what response he has made to the report on sustainable development prepared by the Education for Sustainability Forum as part of Her Majesty's Government's consultation on the United Kingdom strategy for sustainable development.
Mr. Robin Squire : The Department is taking account of the education for Sustainability Forum's consultation document "The Role of Education for Sustainability" when preparing its contribution to the Government's overall strategy for sustainable development.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Police Evidence
33. Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to simplify the procedure by which the police have to present evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Attorney-General : My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary recently announced his acceptance of all 16 of the recommendations of a report by outside consultants designed to reduce and streamline police paperwork. The Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office are now working together to implement these recommendations.
Cautions
34. Mr. Miller : To ask the Attorney-General what advice has been given to police authorities about cautions by his Department and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Solicitor-General : The police exercise their discretion to caution in accordance with guidelines issued
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by the Home Office and administer the vast majority of cautions without reference to the Crown Prosecution Service whose function is limited to advising the police on individual cases of difficulty.Asil Nadir
35. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding legal proceedings against Asil Nadir.
The Attorney-General : Mr. Asil Nadir remains in northern Cyprus with which the United Kingdom does not have extradition arrangements. There is a warrant for his arrest should he return. Interpol has been notified.
War Crimes
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about progress under the War Crimes Act 1991.
The Attorney-General : The Crown Prosecution Service is presently considering interim reports from the Metropolitan police relating to several individuals and further inquiries are being made. Inquiries are not yet complete and the question of possible prosecution cannot be considered until they are concluded. In accordance with the requirements of the War Crimes Act 1991, my consent would be sought in any case where the Crown Prosecution Service considers that proceedings are appropriate.
Juliette"
Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the Attorney-General what prosecutions have been brought in connection with the publication of the book "Juliette" by the Marquis de Sade.
The Solicitor-General : No prosecutions have been brought.
HEALTH
Steroids
Mr. Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Medicines Control Agency's enforcement policy relating to the investigation of reports of the illegal sale or supply of anabolic steroids.
Mr. Sackville : It is the policy of the Medicines Control Agency to investigate all reports concerning the illegal sale or supply of all drugs including anabolic steroids and to take legal action where it is appropriate to do so.
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Cigarettes
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to collect statistics on the number of fires, fire deaths and fire injuries caused by cigarettes.
Mr. Sackville : Information on fires caused by smokers' materials is already collected and published in the Home Office statistics bulletins by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Copies of the bulletins are available in the Library.
Still Births
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been done into the causes of stillbirths in the last 10 years.
Mr. Sackville : The national perinatal epidemiology Unit--NPEU-- which is recognised both nationally and internationally as a centre for research on maternity and perinatal services, is funded by the Department of Health through its research and development division--RDD. The NPEU's publication "Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth" lists research carried out into many aspects of care during pregnancy including circumstances where stillbirth occurs. A copy is available in the Library.
The nationwide confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy is currently collecting its first full year of data. The first annual report on the work of the inquiry was published on 15 November 1993, a copy of which is available in the Library.
Hospital Administrators
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on (a) salary levels and (b) 1994 pay increases for top hospital administrators.
Dr. Mawhinney : National health service salaries are set at levels sufficient to recruit, retain and motivate staff of the right calibre within what is affordable. The Government are committed to delegating responsibility for pay to local managers within robust controls on total pay costs, and to establishing closer links between rewards and performance.
In 1994-95 pay increases will need to be funded from within efficiency improvements.
Treatment Activity
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list for 1992-93 the number of beds and patient activity by broad specialty or departmental group ;
(2) if she will list for 1992-93 the number of beds and patient activity per thousand population by broad specialty group.
Mr. Sackville : The information is shown in the table.
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Hospital activity: Beds and finished consultant episodes
Specialty group |Available beds |Per 1,000 population|Finished consultant |Per 1,000 population
|episodes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All specialties |231,000 |4.8 |9,636,000 |199.2
Acute |113,000 |2.3 |7,775,000 |160.7
Geriatric |40,000 |0.8 |529,000 |10.9
General and acute<1> |153,000 |3.2 |<1>7,770,000 |160.6
Mental illness |47,000 |1.0 |234,000 |4.8
Mental handicap |18,000 |0.4 |56,000 |1.2
Maternity |13,000 |0.3 |1,042,000 |21.5
<1> Excludes "Well Babies", includes geriatric cases.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out-patient and (z) in-patient treatment in ophthalmology ;
(2) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in haematology ;
(3) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in vascular surgery ;
(4) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in ear, nose and throat ;
r for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out-patient and (z) in-patient treatment in neonatology ; (6) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year- end waiting list for (y) out-patient and (z) in-patient treatment in urology ;
(7) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in obstetrics ;
(8) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in genito-urinary medicine ;
(9) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in pain management ;
(10) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in general surgery ;
(11) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and
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(b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in dermatology ;(12) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in gynaecology ;
(13) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in oral surgery ;
(14) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in paediatrics ;
(15) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in rheumatology ;
(16) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in general practice maternity ;
(17) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in general-geriatric medicine ;
(18) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patient and (z) in-patient treatment in endoscopies ;
(19) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out- patients and (z) in-patient treatment in (i) trauma and (ii) orthopaedics.
Dr. Mawhinney : Information on waiting times for out-patient treatment is not currently available centrally. The information available centrally on waiting times for in-patient treatment by district health authority and specialty is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics : England", published twice yearly since 1987. Copies are available in the Library.
Perinatal Epidemiology Unit
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when her Department will reach a decision about a new contract for the national perinatal epidemiology unit ; how this will take account of the recommendation by the second report of the Health Select Committee of Session 1991-92,
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on "Maternity Services", HC 29, that funding be guaranteed for sufficient time to ensure the recruitment and retention for the NPEU of high quality staff ;(2) what steps her Department is taking to set in train the recruitment of a new director of the national perinatal epidemiology unit.
Mr. Sackville : The Department's director of research and development wrote to the national perinatal epidemiology unit--NEPU--on 24 November, stating that he had started discussions with Sir David Weatherall, Regius Professor of Medicine at the university of Oxford, about the appointment of a new director of the NPEU. The firm expectation following this is that the Department will let a new contract with the university of Oxford in regard to the NPEU. The Department fully intends to follow the recommendation by the second report of the Health Select Committee of Session 1991-92, on maternity services, HC 29.
Low-income Scheme
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review into the health benefits--low-income--scheme was begun ; when it was ended ; and when its conclusions will be made public.
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many AG1 forms are administered each year ; and how much per form is spent on administration.
Dr. Mawhinney : The review was announced to Parliament on 22 May 1991, Official Report , column 530 . Since then, a number of internal measures to improve operational efficiency have been implemented, including the transfer of the responsibility for operating the scheme to the Prescription Pricing Authority, a special health authority within the national health service. Other proposals remain under consideration including those resulting from an examination of forms and leaflets. Any changes to the scheme itself will be announced if and when it is agreed that they should be implemented. The NHS low-income scheme remains an essential part of Government policy ensuring that only those who can afford to pay NHS charges are required to do so. In 1992-93, 1.129 million claims to the scheme were processed at an average administrative cost of £6.30 per claim.
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to allow immediate payment for emergency dental treatment for those on low incomes.
Dr. Mawhinney : Recipients of income support, family credit, or holders of national health service low-income scheme AG2 certificates for full remission of NHS charges do not pay for NHS dental treatment. Remission certificates are valid for a period of six months and may be sought as a protection by those on a low income before the need for treatment arises. These arrangements ensure that those who cannot afford to contribute towards the cost of dental services should not be deterred from seeking treatment at any time.
Pharmacies
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest figure of average population per pharmacy in each EC country.
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Dr. Mawhinney : The latest available information is contained in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 6 May 1993 at column 221.
General Practitioners
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the average earnings of general practitioners, broken down by the smallest available geographical area.
Dr. Mawhinney : Information about the geographical distribution of general practitioners' earnings is not available. The intended average net income for an unrestricted principal providing general medical services in Great Britain in 1993-94 is £40,610. Payments for achieving higher levels of coverage for childhood immunisations and cervical screening, and for administering Hib meningitis vaccine are made in addition. These are currently estimated to add £3,200 to the average GP's remuneration in 1993-94.
Footwear
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to the national health service of treating patients with problems that could have been prevented by healthy footwear.
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