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School Buildings
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has received from Ofsted on the number and location of schools in buildings which are considered detrimental to the delivery of the national curriculum ; and what steps he is taking in response.
Mr. Forth : Ofsted published reports on national curriculum subjects and on individual schools routinely comment on the suitability of school accommodation for its purpose. Decisions on the capital programme take this evidence into account.
Column 349
HEALTH
Health Service Expenditure
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the level of net hospital and community health service current expenditure on (i) mental health, (ii) community care, (iii) acute services, (iv) regional area and district health authority headquarters staff and (v) other items in each year since 1973-74 expressed in 1993-94 prices, adjusted by (a) the gross domestic product deflator and (b) changes in input unit costs ;
(2) what was the level of net hospital and community health service current and net NHS current expenditure for
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each year since 1973-74 expressed in 1993-94 prices, adjusted by (a) the gross domestic product deflator and (b) changes in input unit costs.Mr. Sackville : The information requested is shown in the tables. It is not possible to adjust for changes in input unit costs beyond 1990-91 for capital expenditure or for national health service current expenditure, or beyond 1991-92 for hospital and community health service current expenditure. The Government's spending plans for 1994-95 reflect the priority being given to health. The health service in England will receive a further £1.6 billion next year, bringing the total real terms increase since 1978-79 to 64 per cent.
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HCHS net capital expenditure
Cash Adjusted by Adjusted by input
1993-94 pric1990-91 prices
|A |B |A |B |A |B
--------------------------------------------------
1973-74 |- |236 |- |1,456|- |1,265
1974-75 |- |242 |- |1,248|- |1,043
1975-76 |- |326 |- |1,340|- |1,075
1976-77 |- |355 |- |1,286|- |1,046
1977-78 |- |314 |- |1,001|- |809
1978-79 |- |357 |- |1,024|- |824
1979-80 |- |392 |- |963 |- |749
1980-81 |- |536 |- |1,113|- |814
1981-82 |- |646 |- |1,223|- |950
1982-83 |- |676 |- |1,195|- |979
1983-84 |- |685 |- |1,157|- |972
1984-85 |- |760 |- |1,223|- |1,035
1985-86 |- |796 |- |1,213|- |1,024
1985-86 |888 |- |1,354|- |1,142|-
1986-87 |892 |- |1,321|- |1,093|-
1987-88 |902 |- |1,268|- |1,051|-
1988-89 |906 |- |1,194|- |998 |-
1989-90 |1,191|- |1,467|- |1,202|-
1990-91 |1,372|- |1,564|- |1,372|-
1991-92 |1,469|- |1,575|- |- |-
1992-93 |1,672|- |1,726|- |- |-
1993-94 |1,912|- |1,912|- |- |-
HCHS gross capital expenditure
Cash Adjusted by Adjusted by input
1993-94 pric1990-91 prices
|A |B |A |B |A |B
--------------------------------------------------
1973-74 |- |236 |- |1,456|- |1,265
1974-75 |- |242 |- |1,248|- |1,043
1975-76 |- |326 |- |1,340|- |1,075
1976-77 |- |355 |- |1,286|- |1,046
1977-78 |- |314 |- |1,001|- |809
1978-79 |- |365 |- |1,047|- |842
1979-80 |- |402 |- |988 |- |768
1980-81 |- |552 |- |1,147|- |838
1981-82 |- |666 |- |1,261|- |980
1982-83 |- |695 |- |1,229|- |1,006
1983-84 |- |718 |- |1,213|- |1,019
1984-85 |- |810 |- |1,303|- |1,104
1985-86 |- |881 |- |1,343|- |1,133
1985-86 |964 |- |1,469|- |1,240|-
1986-87 |1,041|- |1,542|- |1,275|-
1987-88 |1,103|- |1,551|- |1,286|-
1988-89 |1,186|- |1,563|- |1,307|-
1989-90 |1,423|- |1,753|- |1,436|-
1990-91 |1,551|- |1,768|- |1,551|-
1991-92 |1,639|- |1,757|- |- |-
1992-93 |1,785|- |1,843|- |- |-
1993-94 |2,089|- |2,089|- |- |-
NHS net capital expenditure
Cash Adjusted by Adjusted by input
1993-94 pric1990-91 prices
|A |B |A |B |A |B
--------------------------------------------------
1973-74 |- |245 |- |1,512|- |1,313
1974-75 |- |246 |- |1,269|- |1,060
1975-76 |- |332 |- |1,365|- |1,095
1976-77 |- |361 |- |1,308|- |1,063
1977-78 |- |321 |- |1,024|- |827
1978-79 |- |365 |- |1,047|- |842
1979-80 |- |407 |- |1,000|- |778
1980-81 |- |552 |- |1,147|- |838
1981-82 |- |673 |- |1,275|- |990
1982-83 |- |700 |- |1,238|- |1,014
1983-84 |- |718 |- |1,213|- |1,019
1984-85 |- |793 |- |1,276|- |1,080
1985-86 |- |842 |- |1,283|- |1,083
1985-86 |927 |- |1,413|- |1,193|-
1986-87 |940 |- |1,392|- |1,152|-
1987-88 |926 |- |1,302|- |1,079|-
1988-89 |921 |- |1,213|- |1,015|-
1989-90 |1,221|- |1,504|- |1,232|-
1990-91 |1,425|- |1,625|- |1,425|-
1991-92 |1,523|- |1,633|- |- |-
1992-93 |1,752|- |1,809|- |- |-
1993-94 |1,965|- |1,965|- |- |-
NHS gross capital expenditure
Cash Adjusted by Adjusted by input
1993-94 pric1990-91 prices
|A |B |A |B |A |B
--------------------------------------------------
1973-74 |- |245 |- |1,512|- |1,313
1974-75 |- |246 |- |1,269|- |1,060
1975-76 |- |332 |- |1,365|- |1,095
1976-77 |- |361 |- |1,308|- |1,063
1977-78 |- |321 |- |1,024|- |827
1978-79 |- |373 |- |1,070|- |861
1979-80 |- |417 |- |1,025|- |797
1980-81 |- |568 |- |1,180|- |862
1981-82 |- |693 |- |1,312|- |1,019
1982-83 |- |719 |- |1,271|- |1,041
1983-84 |- |752 |- |1,271|- |1,068
1984-85 |- |845 |- |1,359|- |1,151
1985-86 |- |928 |- |1,415|- |1,194
1985-86 |1,013|- |1,544|- |1,303|-
1986-87 |1,089|- |1,613|- |1,334|-
1987-88 |1,129|- |1,587|- |1,316|-
1988-89 |1,221|- |1,609|- |1,345|-
1989-90 |1,454|- |1,791|- |1,467|-
1990-91 |1,604|- |1,829|- |1,604|-
1991-92 |1,688|- |1,810|- |- |-
1992-93 |1,866|- |1,927|- |- |-
1993-94 |2,038|- |2,038|- |- |-
HCHS net current expenditure
[TITRE
---------------------------------------------------------
1973-74 |- |1,633 |- |10,078|- |13,141
1974-75 |- |2,325 |- |11,992|- |13,737
1975-76 |- |3,050 |- |12,541|- |13,991
1976-77 |- |3,479 |- |12,603|- |14,023
1977-78 |- |3,892 |- |12,411|- |14,446
1978-79 |- |4,374 |- |12,545|- |14,813
1979-80 |- |5,221 |- |12,831|- |14,673
1980-81 |- |6,888 |- |14,307|- |15,124
1981-82 |- |7,597 |- |14,388|- |15,416
1982-83 |- |8,181 |- |14,464|- |15,588
1983-84 |- |8,595 |- |14,522|- |15,582
1984-85 |- |9,084 |- |14,615|- |15,566
1985-86 |- |9,579 |- |14,601|- |15,647
1985-86 |9,769 |- |14,890|- |15,958|-
1986-87 |10,513|- |15,568|- |16,050|-
1987-88 |11,628|- |16,348|- |16,361|-
1988-89 |12,903|- |17,000|- |16,415|-
1989-90 |13,812|- |17,015|- |16,530|-
1990-91 |15,556|- |17,734|- |17,127|-
1991-92 |17,707|- |18,985|- |17,707|-
1992-93 |19,461|- |20,093|- |- |-
1993-94 |20,132|- |20,132|- |- |-
NHS net current expenditure
Cash Adjusted by GDAdjusted by input un
1993-94 prices1990-91 prices
|A |B |A |B |A |B
---------------------------------------------------------
1973-74 |- |2,263 |- |13,966|- |15,559
1974-75 |- |3,091 |- |15,943|- |15,990
1975-76 |- |4,081 |- |16,781|- |16,391
1976-77 |- |4,671 |- |16,921|- |16,588
1977-78 |- |5,234 |- |16,690|- |17,068
1978-79 |- |5,908 |- |16,945|- |17,435
1979-80 |- |7,040 |- |17,301|- |17,313
1980-81 |- |9,148 |- |19,001|- |17,757
1981-82 |- |10,181|- |19,282|- |18,214
1982-83 |- |11,119|- |19,658|- |18,962
1983-84 |-- |11,776|- |19,897|- |19,108
1984-85 |- |12,614|- |20,294|- |19,291
1985-86 |- |13,334|- |20,324|- |19,385
B:
1985-86 |13,249|- |20,195|- |19,261|-
1986-87 |14,233|- |21,077|- |19,465|-
1987-88 |15,742|- |22,132|- |19,934|-
1988-89 |17,492|- |23,046|- |20,137|-
1989-90 |18,637|- |22,959|- |20,221|-
1990-91 |20,906|- |23,833|- |20,906|-
1991-92 |23,836|- |25,556|- |- |-
1992-93 |25,723|- |26,559|- |- |-
1993-94 |27,283|- |27,203|- |- |-
Notes:
1. Figures in column A have been adjusted to reflect the
changes which came into effect from April 1991 (see
paragraphs 9 and 10 of the 1991
Departmental Report). Figures in column B do not reflect
these transfers and are therefore not directly
comparable with those for later years.
2. Figures for 1993-94 are estimates.
Community Care
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the local authorities participating in the study of community care, housing and homelessness, which is being undertaken by her Department's social services inspectorate and the NHS management executive.
Mr. Bowis : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 February at columns 195-97. The study is being undertaken not only by the National Health Service Management Executive and the social services inspectorate, but also jointly with the Department of the Environment.
HIV
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnant women have been found to be HIV positive in each of the last five years ; and what are the projected figures for the next two years.
Column 354
Mr. Sackville : The table shows the results of unlinked anonymised surveillance of pregnant women and neonates. All babies born to HIV- infected women will carry materanal antibodies to HIV at birth, regardless of whether they have been infected with the virus, so the dried blood spot figures reflect the infection status of the mother rather than the babies.
Many HIV-infected women do not know their HIV status. It is estimated that, up to 1992, in south east England, including London, the proportion of pregnant HIV-infected women whose infection was recognised at the time of birth was under 20 per cent.
The Department does not have projections of the number of pregnant HIV- infected women over the next two years.
Column 353
Prevalence of HIV-1 Positive Women Identified from Unlinked Surveys in England 1988-93
Survey Group and Year |Area/Region |Number tested |Number HIV |Prevalence
|infected |per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics
1990 |<2>London |42,737 |77 |0.180
|Outside London |40,382 |4 |0.010
1991 |<1>London |54,338 |114 |0.210
|Outside London |90,883 |15 |0.017
1992 |<1>London |52,354 |137 |0.260
|Outside London |78,864 |6 |0.008
Dried blood spots neonates
1988<1> |Inner London |12,721 |4 |0.030
|Outer London |18,288 |6 |0.030
|Outside London |20,649 |1 |0.005
1989<1> |Inner London |31,162 |21 |0.070
|Outer London |43,288 |18 |0.040
|Outside London |55,676 |3 |0.005
1990<1> |Inner London |28,384 |39 |0.140
|Outer London |38,769 |16 |0.040
|Outside London |49,789 |5 |0.010
1991 |<1>Inner London |34,733 |55 |0.160
|<1>Outer London |47,945 |50 |0.100
|Outside London |70,076 |5 |0.007
1992 |Inner London |47,769 |102 |0.210
|Outer London |59,177 |58 |0.100
|Outside London |143,156 |12 |0.008
<1>Survey coordinated by the Institute of Child Health, London (ICH).
<2>The survey is based mainly in the Inner London area.
Regional Health Authorities
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the capitation position of each regional health authority in each of the last three years and at the latest available date showing (a) the percentage that they are above or below capitation and (b) the cash amount that this represented of current budgets.
Column 356
Mr. Sackville : The information is shown in the table. The figures for 1994-95 reflect the position for the present regional health authorities which will result from the allocations detailed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Sir D. Thompson) on 7 December 1993 at columns 198-200.
Column 355
RHA distance from weighted capitation shares
Region |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
|£ million|Per cent.|£ million|Per cent.|£ million|Per cent.|£ million|Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |-0.4 |0.0 |-3.3 |-0.3 |-6.3 |-0.5 |-1.4 |-0.1
Yorkshire |-7.4 |-0.7 |-3.8 |-0.3 |-3.1 |-0.2 |-1.9 |-0.1
Trent |-9.3 |-0.7 |-4.7 |-0.3 |-10.9 |-0.6 |-4.7 |-0.3
East Anglian |-3.9 |-0.7 |-2.0 |-0.3 |-4.7 |-0.7 |-2.3 |-0.3
North West Thames |10.0 |0.9 |-1.5 |-0.1 |26.2 |2.0 |18.5 |1.5
North East Thames |11.7 |0.9 |10.2 |0.7 |16.9 |1.1 |5.4 |0.4
South East Thames |-7.8 |-0.6 |-4.1 |-0.3 |4.4 |0.3 |-2.9 |-0.2
South West Thames |1.5 |0.2 |20.5 |1.9 |12.8 |1.2 |7.8 |0.7
Wessex |-5.8 |-0.7 |-2.9 |-0.3 |-9.5 |-0.9 |-5.3 |-0.5
Oxford |-3.8 |-0.5 |-2.3 |-0.3 |-3.1 |-0.4 |-3.1 |-0.4
South Western |-6.6 |-0.7 |-3.3 |-0.3 |-7.8 |-0.7 |-2.6 |-0.2
West Midlands |-1.9 |-0.1 |-5.2 |-0.4 |-9.6 |-0.5 |-5.2 |-0.3
Mersey |11.9 |1.6 |6.7 |0.8 |-1.4 |-0.2 |-0.3 |0.0
North Western |11.6 |0.9 |-4.3 |-0.3 |-3.9 |-0.3 |-2.1 |-0.1
Munchhausen's Syndrome by Proxy
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnoses of Munchhausen's syndrome by proxy were made in the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Bowis : I understand that it is very rare. Specific numbers of diagnoses are not known.
NHS Fundholders
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in the Barnsley, East constituency are NHS fundholders ; and what plans she has to make it obligatory for general practitioners who are fundholders to inform their patients of their status.
Dr. Mawhinney : Regional health authorities are responsible for managing the general practitioner
Column 356
fundholding scheme in their areas and only regional information is available centrally. For local information in the Yorkshire region the hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Bryan Askew, chairman of the Yorkshire regional health authority.We would expect GP fundholders to inform patients about their fundholding status in the most appropriate way, and the National Health Service Management Executive has produced a patient information leaflet to assist with this, copies of which are available in the Library.
Private Patients
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she is expecting the publication of "Private Patients in National Health Service Hospitals--Finished Consultant Episodes" for 1992-93 ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : By the end of this financial year.
Column 357
Oral Health
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to complete her consultations on the Bloomfield report ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : We have completed the formal consultation. Our proposals will be announced in due course.
Public Bodies
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to secure greater transparency in the affairs of non- elected bodies whose membership in whole in part is appointed by her or which exercise functions previously carried out by local authorities.
Mr. Sackville : The Government's White Paper "Open Government" set out proposals for introducing greater public access to information held by Government local authorities and the national health service. From 1 April 1994 the Department of Health, including the NHS Management Executive and departmental agencies, will act upon the principles of the Government's code of practice. In addition, the Management Executive, in partnership with the NHS, is developing a code of practice for the NHS in response to the White Paper. This will be in place by the end of the year.
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing, in 1992-93 prices, the gross public spending for each year from 1990-91 and the projected expenditure for each of the national health service bodies (England) as listed in "Public Bodies 1993".
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 15 February 1994] : The information is shown in the table. Projected expenditure is not available centrally.
Gross expenditure of national health service bodies (England)
|1990-91<1>|1991-92<1>|1992-93
|£ million |£ million |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Health Authorities<2> |549 |1,042 |1,099
District Health Authorities<2> |15,765 |14,660 |11,652
Dental Practice Board<3> |22 |1,037 |904
Family Health Services
Authorities<4> |5,967 |5,762 |6,379
Health Education Authority |31 |32 |34
Mental Health Act Commission<5> |2 |2 |2
National Blood Authority |26 |47 |47
NHS Trusts<2> |- |2,431 |5,979
National Health Service Supplies
Authority<6> |- | 1.4 |419
Prescription Pricing Authority<7> |42 |39 |38
Special Health Authorities of the
London post graduate teaching
hospitals<2> |325 |351 |371
Special Hospitals Service
Authority |103 |111 |119
United Kingdom Transplant
Support Service Authority |- |2 |3
Source:
Appropriation account figures of the Mental Health Act Commission
and Special Hospitals Service Authority, annual accounts of all other
NHS bodies 1990-91 to 1992-93 and annual financial returns of
regional, district and special health authorities of the London
postgraduate teaching hospitals (1991-92 and 1992-93).
<1>Figures expressed in 1992-93 prices using GDP deflators.
<2>Data for 1992-93 is provisional.
<3>In April 1991 the Dental Practice Board took over the main
responsibility from FHSAs for making payments to dentists. Figures for
1991-92 and 1992-93 therefore include payments to dentists which were
previously included in the FHSA accounts. The payments are net of dental
charges collected and retained by dentists.
<4>These figures include payments for FHS services but are net of patient
charges collected and retained by FHS contractors.
<5>Figures include administration support provided by Department of
Health staff seconded to the Commission.
<6>The NHS Supplies Authority was set up in October 1991. The 1991-92
figure therefore reflects the first six months' expenditure.
<7>Administrative expenditure, including capital costs which vary from
year to year.
Meningitis
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations she had with the National Meningitis Trust prior to cancellation of the poster campaign on meningitis planned by her office ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : Representatives of the trust met Departmental officials in September and December last year to discuss options for a meningitis campaign, and the trust provided the first draft for the information leaflet, "Knowing about Meningitis and Septicaemia", which has had a wide distribution. The trust also saw early ideas for posters, which are among the futher steps under consideration.
Orthopaedic Services
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting for orthopaedic care operations by local health authority areas.
Dr. Mawhinney : Information on waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment by speciality for district health authorities is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics : England". This is published twice yearly and copies are available in the Library.
Infertility
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information has been collected by her Department on levels of funding for NHS infertility treatment over the past five years.
Mr. Sackville : District health authorities and general practitioner fundholders are responsible for identifying the health needs of their local population and for commissioning the appropriate services. Details on the level of funding allocated for national health service infertility services in each area are not collected centrally.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued by her Department regarding the exchange of human ova for infertility treatment : and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority issued general directions on 1 August 1991 to licensed centres, entitled "Giving and receiving money or other benefits in respect of any supply of gametes or embryos". Copies of these
directions--Ref.D.1991/2--will be placed in the Library.
These directions were issued under section 12 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 which lists
Column 359
the conditions that must be satisfied before a centre is granted a licence for treatment, storage and/or research under the Act.Water Fluoridation
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require the publication of all responses received by individual health districts within the area covered by Yorkshire Water plc during the consultation process, concerning fluoridation of water supplies indicating (1) the responses in favour and (2) the responses against for each district (a) the number received from outside Yorkshire Water's area, (b) the number received from outside the individual district's area, (c) the number received from individual employees of the health service, (d) the number of anonymous letters, (e) the number of letters received from the same person and (f) the number of duplicate letters or cards ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : Fluoridation of water supplies is a local matter. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of the relevant district health authorities for details.
Community Care
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue guidance to (a) local authorities, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) private employers regarding procedures to enable community care staff to raise concerns about fraud or client care.
Mr. Bowis : It is employers' responsibility and that of professionals in all care sectors to ensure that any evidence of bad practice or misconduct is investigated appropriately and without delay.
General Practitioners
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure on general practitioners, management and administration, secretary/clerical and receptionists for each year since 1 October 1990 in general practice.
Dr. Mawhinney : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 21 January at column 888 .
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of general practitioners, management and administrative staff, secretary/clerical and receptionists in general practice at 1 October 1993.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is not yet available.
Contraception
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has considered on the extent of the statistical relationship between contraceptive advice and (a) reduced pregnancies among girls aged under 16 years and (b) increased sexual activity among girls aged under 16 years.
Mr. Sackville : We are aware of a recent review by the World Health Organisation of 19 studies in different countries into the effects of sex education. The conclusion
Column 360
of the review was that sex education does not promote earlier or increased sexual activity in young people. Copies of the review will be placed in the Library.Health Education
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on making health education available to all people aged over 13 years.
Mr. Sackville : Our policy for people of all ages is to enable them to make informed choices on matters affecting their health, by providing information appropriate to their needs and understanding.
Doctors (Freedom of Speech)
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what differences there are in the provisions made for freedom of speech by (a) doctors employed by directly managed units and (b) doctors employed by NHS trusts under the General Whitley Council agreements ;
(2) when and with whose agreement changes to the General Whitley Council arrangements regarding doctors' freedom of speech have been made since 1987.
Dr. Mawhinney : There is no General Whitley Council agreement relating to freedom of speech for staff.
The Right to Complain"
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the principle of staff advocacy for service users outlined in "The Right to Complain" practice guidance on complaints procedures, issued by the social services inspectorate, to NHS staff and patients.
Dr. Mawhinney : We have asked Professor Wilson from Leeds university to carry out a review of the national health service complaints procedures and await his report.
Unused Medicines
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her estimate of the total value of medicines that are prescribed but remain unused by the patient during a course of treatment ; (2) what research has been done by her Department regarding the proportion of prescribed medicines which remain unused by the patient during a course of treatment.
Dr. Mawhinney : As I have already made clear, the Department is in the process of developing a study to examine the proportion, and therefore the value, of prescribed medicines which remain unused by patients during courses of treatment. Details will be announced shortly.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist for the disposal of prescribed medicines that are not used or rendered unusable during a course of treatment.
Dr. Mawhinney : For several years, members of the public have been encouraged to return unwanted medicines to community pharmacies for disposal, rather than adding them to household waste or the sewer system. Local disposal of unwanted medicines and
poison--("DUMP"--campaigns have periodically raised the profile of this
Column 361
method of disposal, and since 1992 the regular collection and disposal of unwanted medicines through community pharmacies has been funded centrally, since these schemes reduce not only the risk of accidental poisoning but also of environmental damage associated with disposal to sewers.The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has issued guidance to the profession on ensuring the correct disposal of waste medicines, recommending incineration for most medicines except where manufacturers advice differs. Waste prescription medicines are special waste and subject to the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980.
Public-Media Relations
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how her Department is monitoring the implementation of the guidance for staff in relations with the public and the media ; and if she will list those trusts and authorities which have adopted local procedures.
Dr. Mawhinney : National health service employers are responsible for the implementation of the guidance for staff in relations with the public and the media".
Under-age Pregnancy
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has considered on the extent to which the rate of pregnancies in girls aged under 16 years in Holland is a result of health initiatives other than the inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum.
Mr. Sackville : We are aware that in the Netherlands sex education in schools plays an important part in a comprehensive approach to the health of teenagers.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were admitted to hospital as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty gas appliances for each year since 1989.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have been asked to reply.
The figures are not available in the form requested. However, since 1989 the numbers of injuries caused by carbon monoxide poisoning relating to the supply and use of flammable gas reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, are as follows :
|Numbers
------------------------
1988-89 |94
1989-90 |88
1990-91 |131
1991-92 |184
1992-93 |<1>170
<1> Provisional.
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths there were from carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty gas appliances in each year since 1989.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have been asked to reply.
Since 1989 the numbers of fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning relating to the supply and use of
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flammable gas reported to the Health and Safety Executive, under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, are as follows :
|Number
----------------------
1988-89 |41
1989-90 |34
1990-91 |30
1991-92 |33
1992-93 |<1>39
<1> Provisional.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Water (Protection Grants)
12. Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many grants were given by her Department to the National Rivers Authority, local authorities and internal drainage boards towards the costs of approved sea defence, coastal protection, urban flood relief and arterial drainage works.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : My Department approves about 200 such schemes each year providing protection to around 20,000 homes, 2,500 businesses and 40,000 hectares of farmland.
Dairying
13. Sir David Knox : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will next meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy sector.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I hope to meet the president of the National Farmers Union on 28 February and no doubt we shall discuss the dairy sector.
Food (Deregulation)
14. Dr. Wright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on deregulation policy in relation to food.
Mr. Soames : We announced food law deregulations last September. It involves taking a critical look at all existing regulations, while recognising the overriding need to continue to maintain food safety and protect the consumer.
Arable Area Payments
15. Mr. Tipping : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many landowners in (a) Nottinghamshire, (b) the east midlands and (c) England are receiving annual payment under the arable area payments scheme in the latest financial year ; and what amount has been paid for each of these areas.
Mr. Jack : I hope to be in a position to publish figures on a county basis within the next two weeks and I shall place the information in the House Library as soon as it is available.
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Environment (Support)
16. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on progress in relating agricultural support to environmental needs.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I am greatly expanding the range of environmental schemes available to farmers and have successfully pressed for environmental objectives to be integrated into other aspects of the common agricultural policy.
Agricultural Co-operatives
17. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals she has to increase support for agricultural co- operatives and share farming.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Group marketing grant gives considerable aid to co-operatives.
New, broader, marketing development scheme will provide another £10 million over the next three years.
Bananas
18. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations she has had with the chairman of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce in relation to the issuing of licences for the importation of bananas.
Mr. Jack : The board's officials have issued licences in 1993 and 1994 in accordance with EC regulations. Ministers have not been involved.
Agri-environment Programme
19. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost of the agri-environment programme in the United Kingdom in 1994-95.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Forecast expenditure on the United Kingdom agri-environment programmes is £64 million in 1994-95, rising to over £100 million in 1995-96.
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