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Legal Advice
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the provision of a network of independent advice and law centres throughout England and Wales ; and what response he has made to the Advice 2000 initiative launched by the Advice Services Alliance.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to his question to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department.
Police Discipline
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been made to him by police officers in each of the last five years and how many such cases involved disciplinary proceedings which had resulted in (a) dismissal, (b) the officer being required to resign and (c) reduction in rank ; how many such appeals in each category were decided in each of the last five years ; in how many cases the appeals were (i) upheld or (ii)
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varied ; and where reduction in rank was involved what was the reduction originally proposed and what was imposed after the appeal.Mr. Charles Wardle : Statistical information relating to police disciplinary appeals is prepared on the basis of cases completed in each calendar year. Figures for the last five years are as follows :
Appeals completed |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total number of
appeals |42 |45 |43 |58 |35
Total appeals against
dismissal, |4 |12 |8 |14 |8
of which:
appeal allowed |- |- |- |1 |2
punishment varied |3 |6 |3 |1 |-
Total appeals against
requirement to
resign, |26 |21 |21 |20 |19
of which:
appeal allowed |- |- |1 |1 |-
punishment varied |5 |4 |1 |4 |4
Total appeals against
reduction in rank, |7 |6 |2 |12 |3
of which:
appeal allowed |- |1 |- |- |-
punishment varied |4 |2 |1 |2 |2
Analysis of reductions in rank
Original punishment |Result of appeal
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989
Chief inspector to constable |Reduced to sergeant
Inspector to sergeant |Varied to financial punishment
Inspector to constable |Appeal dismissed
Sergeant to constable |Varied to financial punishment
Sergeant to constable |Varied to reprimand
Sergeant to constable
(two cases) |Appeal dismissed
1990
Inspector to sergeant |Allowed
Inspector to constable |Appeal dismissed
Sergeant to constable |Varied to financial punishment
Sergeant to constable
(three cases) |Appeal dismissed
1991
Chief inspector to inspector |Varied to reprimand
Sergeant to constable |Appeal dismissed
1992
Chief inspector to inspector |Appeal dismissed
Inspector to sergeant
(three cases) |Appeal dismissed
Sergeant to constable
(two cases) |Varied to financial punishment
Sergeant to constable
(six cases) |Appeal dismissed
1993
Chief inspector to inspector |Varied to financial punishment
Inspector to constable |Appeal dismissed
Sergeant to constable |Varied to financial punishment
European Court
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's current policy towards the right of
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individuals automatically to take cases to the European Court and the other reforms proposed by the Council of Europe.Mr. Charles Wardle : Reforms of the machinery of the European convention on human rights are provided for in the draft 11th protocol to the convention. The United Kingdom proposes to sign the protocol at the meeting of Council of Europe Ministers on 11 May, and to ratify it in due course.
The United Kingdom has made a major contribution to the reforms, under which the European Commission and Court of Human Rights will be replaced by a single court. We have, for example, taken the lead in securing within the protocol effective and valuable provision for the friendly settlement of cases, for the re-hearing of cases brought by individual application and, in the final negotiations at Strasbourg on 21 to 25 March, for the re- hearing of "inter-state" cases. As we explained in those negotiations, there are good reasons why the right of individual petition to the new court should be optional and renewable, whereas the protocol provides for this to be mandatory. We have decided to accept this in order to allow the institutional reforms to which we have made such a contribution to come into effect.
Correspondence
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to the last letter, dated 1 February, concerning Mr. A. Benton, reference 30817/93.
Mr. Maclean : The West Midlands police are continuing to make detailed inquiries into Mr. Benton's representations of wrongful conviction. I understand from the chief constable that certain lines of inquiry are still outstanding, but that he hopes to submit a report of his inquiries shortly. Once that report is to hand and I have had a chance to consider all the evidence in the round, I will write to the hon. Member to say whether any grounds have been disclosed which would justify referring Mr. Benton's conviction back to the Court of Appeal.
Campsfield Detention Centre
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what other companies, or subsidiaries, of Group 4 have been used to provide security staff at Campsfield detention centre.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Security at Campsfield house is provided under contract by Group 4 Total Security Ltd., which has, on occasions, called on assistance from staff employed by Group 4 Securitas, including "Euroguard".
Coroner Peter Brunton
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when his Department plans to assess new evidence relating to Coroner Peter Brunton ; and if he will take evidence from Mr. Geoffrey Turner ;
(2) when he expects the investigation into the conduct of the coroner of Ceredigion in the case of Mr. Jeremy Turner to be completed.
Mr. Charles Wardle : All representations received are being taken into account ; any further written representation from Mr. Turner will be considered. We expect to
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report the outcome of the investigation into the conduct of Coroner Peter Brunton, in the case of Mr. Jeremy Turner, to the Lord Chancellor's Department by the end of May.Prisons Ombudsman
Mr. Willetts : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in appointing a prisons ombudsman.
Mr. Howard : I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Sir Peter Woodhead KCB as the prisons ombudsman. Sir Peter plans to take up the post in May, and our intention is that his new office will be established and will start to receive and investigate prisoners' complaints in the autumn. I welcome this as a significant step in providing a further safeguard for the fair and just treatment of prisoners.
WALES
Dental Services
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many family health authorities have been unable to provide emergency dental services in the period since December 1992.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Emergency dental service clinics currently operate in all Welsh family health services authority areas except Dyfed. There was a period up to May 1993 when Gwynedd family health services authority was also unable to arrange such a clinic.
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients have contacted each family health services authority asking for help in finding a dentist in the period since December 1992.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information provided by Welsh family health services authorities since 4 December 1992 is as follows :
-
|Number
------------------------------
Clwyd |2,029
Dyfed |1,645
Gwent |1,292
Gwynedd |10,816
Mid Glamorgan |437
Powys |1,264
South Glamorgan |2,935
West Glamorgan |205
This information was provided for management purposes only and has not been statistically validated.
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists have given written notice to have their names removed from dental lists since 4 December 1992.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information provided by Welsh family health services authorities indicates that 44 dentists have given written notice to have their names removed from dental lists since 4 December 1992.
This information was provided for management purposes only and has not been statistically validated.
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Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many continuing care dental patients have been de-registered ; and how many dentists have de-registered patients in the period since December 1992.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information provided by Welsh family health services authorities indicates that 12,190 patients were de-registered in the period since 4 December 1992.
During that period the number of dentists de-registering patients has not exceeded 20 in any fortnightly period.
This information was provided for management purposes only and has not been statistically validated.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many replies he has given since April 1992 to questions from hon. and right hon. Members stating that the information requested is already on the public record.
Mr. Redwood : Since April 1992, my predecessor and I received over 5,500 parliamentary questions. It is not possible to identify information in the form requested.
Orthopaedics
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority concerning the provision and funding of additional Midas-Rex drills for revision orthopaedic surgery and other purposes at the Cardiff Royal group of hospitals ;
(2) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning the treatment centre at the Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, Rhydlafar, near Cardiff.
Mr. Redwood : While I have had no consultations with the chairmen, earlier today my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced funding for the treatment centre initiative for 1994-95. This includes £945,051 to provide 291 hip/knee replacements at the Rhydlafar centre, including £99,705 as a special measure to tackle waiting lists. Further funding, of £178,000 in 1994-95, is being made available for the extension of the initiative to provide a four-year programme of joint revision surgery within the Cardiff Royal group, including provision for the purchase of a Midas-Rex drill and other essential medical equipment.
Strategic Development Scheme
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each county and district council what allocation of funding has been made under the strategic development scheme and its predecessor schemes, including the urban programmes, rural initiative, projects of national and regional importance and special projects, for the last three years and for 1994-95.
Mr. Redwood : Allocations made to local authorities in Wales under the urban programme, rural initiative, projects of regional and national importance and special project schemes between 1991-92 and 1993-94 and the strategic development scheme in 1994-95 are set out in the table.
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Local authority urban programme (UP), rural initiative (RI) project of national and regional importance/special projects
(PRN1/SP) and strategic
development scheme (SDS) allocations between 1991 and 1995
Local authority |Programme |1991-92 |1992-93<5> |1993-94<1> |1994-95<4>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd CC |RI |165,000 |170,000 |279,000 |-
|UP |1,904,020 |1,777,985 |804,817 |-
|PRNI/SP |2,390,000 |2,361,000 |2,000,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,297,237
Alyn and Deeside CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |257,613 |100,000 |337,500 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,337,527
Colwyn DC |RI |40,000 |- |32,000 |-
|UP |315,707 |133,000 |70,000 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |580,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,447,000
Delyn |RI |120,000 |- |- |-
|UP |810,141 |756,658 |337,998 |-
|PRNI/SP |650,000 |2,000,000 |1,950,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |728,758
Glyndwr DC |RI |180,000 |270,000 |174,540 |-
|UP |298,987 |225,237 |118,131 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,186,956
Rhuddlan BC |RI |147,000 |- |27,000 |-
|UP |687,000 |1,125,000 |1,137,554 |-
|PRNI/SP |840,000 |825,000 |1,200,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |820,867
Wrexham Maelor BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,436,703 |549,559 |246,401 |-
|PRNI/SP |1,350,000 |200,000 |2,085,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,487,336
Dyfed CC |RI |553,000 |2,312,700 |838,500 |-
|UP |1,010,538 |303,683 |351,184 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,289,653<2>
Carmarthen DC |RI |557,650 |126,500 |120,000 |-
|UP |694,088 |17,865 |17,865 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |183,933<3>
Ceredigion DC |RI |140,000 |240,000 |302,000 |-
|UP |277,127 |107,163 |76,781 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |500,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |975,194<3>
Dinfwr BC |RI |78,000 |125,000 |236,000 |-
|UP |762,731 |1,080,375 |427,830 |-
|PRNI/SP |900,000 |600,000 |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,443,915
Llanelli BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |434,327 |1,103,627 |764,057 |-
|PRNI/SP |1,000,000 |1,095,627 |1,500,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,224,300
Preseli Pembrokeshire DC |RI |33,450 |347,104 |1,021,460 |-
|UP |316,530 |112,439 |140,000 |-
|PRNI/SP |650,000 |700,000 |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |927,015
South Pembrokeshire DC |RI |60,000 |146,000 |678,340 |-
|UP |274,247 |193,000 |221,792 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |1,000,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,481,272
Gwent CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |5,479,696 |2,234,987 |1,355,759 |-
|PRNI/SP |1,054,000 |500,000 |500,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,389,256
Blaenau Gwent BC |RI |9,800 |- |- |-
|UP |5,883,525 |1,680,885 |915,728 |-
|PRNI/SP |1,055,000 |700,000 |655,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,752,723
Islwyn BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,058,884 |840,476 |722,920 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,256,908
Monmouth DC |RI |236,000 |211,000 |56,911 |-
|UP |264,683 |29,724 |203,306 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |57,873
Newport BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |678,392 |815,426 |1,034,386 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,153,335
Torfaen BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |801,739 |464,436 |345,344 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |640,075
Gwynedd CC |RI |410,000 |208,000 |641,000 |-
|UP |1,069,774 |1,495,728 |1,460,011 |-
|PRNI/SP |248,000 |- |806,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,778,897
Aberconway BC |RI |- |617,983 |440,000 |-
|UP |260,900 |190,900 |170,450 |-
|PRNI/SP |759,000 |2,185,000 |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,170,000
Arfon BC |RI |300,000 |94,500 |590,000 |-
|UP |807,403 |656,932 |381,854 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,126,060
Dwyfor DC |RI |250,000 |156,400 |501,300 |-
|UP |250,000 |150,000 |121,475 |-
|PRNI/SP |1,400,000 |1,900,000 |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |787,464
Meirionnydd DC |RI |- |100,000 |526,100 |-
|UP |399,539 |221,029 |157,595 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |622,576
Ynys Mon BC |RI |52,000 |135,000 |390,000 |-
|UP |583,406 |318,282 |127,071 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,019,198
Mid Glamorgan CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |2,163,187 |2,419,309 |2,195,545 |-
|PRNI/SP |7,430,000 |2,374,309 |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,595,176
Cynon Valley BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |2,272,621 |2,322,765 |1,775,532 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,936,880
Merthyr Tydfil BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,059,184 |1,487,581 |987,046 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |892,769
Ogwr BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,185,108 |1,353,902 |1,165,412 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |1,102,278
|SDS |- |- |- |-
Rhondda BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,823,311 |1,896,285 |2,804,766 |-
|PRNI/SP |900,000 |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |4,450,290
Rhymey Valley DC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |642,858 |1,161,266 |744,720 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |800,000
Taff-Ely BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |665,850 |1,084,591 |533,282 |-
|PRNI/SP |350,000 |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |420,789
Powys CC |RI |277,122 |500,000 |317,000 |-
|UP |763,280 |114,640 |90,566 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |774,738
Brecknock BC |RI |360,000 |- |110,000 |-
|UP |385,000 |250,000 |- |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |1,316,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,330,000
Montgomeryshire DC |RI |580,000 |196,826 |262,000 |-
|UP |560,000 |- |- |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |125,790
Radnor DC |RI |420,000 |31,000 |- |-
|UP |604,686 |15,836 |15,836 |-
|PRNI/SP |805,000 |250,000 |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |182,918
South Glamorgan CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,136,343 |1,624,470 |1,339,602 |-
|PRNI/SP |400,000 |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,227,698
Cardiff CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,206,534 |1,076,683 |1,310,492 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |988,961
Vale of Glamorgan CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |288,710 |577,677 |760,882 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |1,189,632
West Glamorgan CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |1,072,526 |1,358,844 |1,632,821 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |300,000 |1,879,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,281,353
Port Talbot BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |622,700 |183,047 |330,809 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |249,797
Lliw Valley BC |RI |- |- |8,344 |-
|UP |302,300 |432,078 |338,504 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |281,758
Neath BC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |816,520 |679,811 |310,285 |-
|PRNI/SP |- |- |- |-
|SDS |- |- |- |347,311
Swansea CC |RI |- |- |- |-
|UP |554,307 |544,277 |964,804 |-
|PRNI/SP |1,239,000 |- |165,000 |-
|SDS |- |- |- |2,625,245
<1> Includes additional in-year allocations.
<2> Includes £0.5 million available to any local authority within the West Wales Task Force area.
<3> Does not include £1.9 million set aside for projects supported in principle for Carmarthen DC and Ceridigion DC.
<4> Includes slippage on schemes carried forward from 1993-94.
<5> Figures updated since Mr. Elfyn Llwyd's question (PQ 934/93/94) answered on 3 March 1994.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what method his Department calculates the index used to determine funding for strategic development schemes in local councils ; what method is used to allow for sparsity of population ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : Funding under the strategic development scheme is allocated according to the quality of the bids which local authorities submit. In reaching decisions I have regard to the needs reflected in the index of socio-economic conditions. The composition of the index was agreed with the local authority associations and is compiled using eight factors largely derived from census information. The factors are measured in terms of both scale--that is, actual numbers--and intensity--that is, proportion of the population. The data are statistically transformed to make each factor comparable, weighted and combined to give an overall score for each electoral ward. The eight factors are :
a. Unemployment
b. Economically active population
c. Low socio-economic groups
d. Population loss in the 20 to 59 years age group
e. Permanently sick
f. Overcrowding in housing
g. Level of basic housing amenities
h. Standard mortality rate (relatives values only).
Sparsity of population is not a factor in the index.
School Admission Appeals
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the figures, in total and for each local education authority, of admission appeals by parents failing to obtain a place for their child in the school of their choice ; and, of this total, how many (a) were withdrawn before committee stage, (b) were settled to mutual satisfaction before
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committee stage, (c) were rejected by committee and (d) were decided in the parents' favour by the committee for each year since 1989-90.Sir Wyn Roberts : This information is not collected centrally.
Advice Services
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards the provision of a network of independent advice and law centres throughout Wales ; and what response he has made to the aims of the Independent Advice Services in Wales initiative and the Advice 2000 initiative launched by the Advice Services Alliance.
Mr. Redwood : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department.
I cannot comment on the aims included in the reports, "Independent Advice Services in Wales" or "Advice 2000", as I have yet to receive copies.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of funding from the Welsh Office for voluntary advice services for the financial year 1993-94 and each of the previous 10 years ; and how many schemes received funding in each year.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Figures for 1993-94 are not yet available. Figures for the financial years 1989-90 to 1992-93 are given in the table. These indicate the number of schemes run by voluntary organisations where the main aims included the provision of advice and information, and show the level of Welsh Office funding. Figures for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Financial year |Number of |Welsh Office
|schemes |funding
|£
------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |15 |533,025
1990-91 |14 |673,196
1991-92 |24 |797,456
1992-93 |47 |1,990,406
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Agricultural Subsidies
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the budget, in real and nominal terms, for Wales in (i) 1991, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1993 and (iv) his estimate for 1994 for (a) the sheep annual premium, (b) the suckler cow premium and (c) the beef special premium.
Mr. Redwood : The budgets for the sheep annual premium, the suckler cow premium and the beef special premium schemes are set out by financial year in the tables. Table 1 shows the expenditure and provision in 1994-95 and table 2 shows the figures at 1994-95 prices adjusted using the current GDP deflator.
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Table 1
Cash (£'000s)
Outturn ExpectedProvision
Scheme |1991-92|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheep annual premium
(including LFA supplement) |78,196 |95,101 |137,201|133,832
Suckler cow premium
including extensification 1994-95) |10,686 |11,428 |9,042 |21,167
Beef special premium
(including extensification 1994-95) |0 |0 |5,156 |11,604
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Table 2
1994-95 prices (£'000s)
Outturn ExpectedProvision
Scheme |1991-92|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheep annual premium
(including LFA supplement) |87,190 |102,119|142,689|133,832
Suckler cow premium
(including extensification 1994-95) |11,915 |12,271 |9,404 |21,167
Beef special premium
(including extensification 1994-95) |0 |0 |5,362 |11,604
Notes
1. The figures in table 1 for 1991-92 and 1992-93 can be found in the
respective appropriation accounts.
2. The figures in table 2 for 1993-94 will be finalised in the
appropriation accounts which will be published later this year.
3. The figures for 1994-95 are available in the 1994-95 main supply
estimate class XV vote 1.
4. Prior to 1993-94, beef special premium expenditure was the
responsibility of the Intervention Board Executive Agency.
Overgrazing
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers have been approached by his officials to discuss ways of reducing overgrazing in each year since the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : None. Claimants for the hill livestock compensatory allowances are warned that if the land on which the stock is kept is found to be overgrazed the payment will be reduced. There have been no cases so far where this has been necessary.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many farmers have had hill livestock compensatory allowances withheld in 1992, 1993 and 1994 as a direct result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause ; (2) how many hill livestock compensatory allowances he has withheld in 1992, 1993 and 1994 as a direct result
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of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are in place to monitor whether meetings between his officials and producers to discuss way of reducing overgrazing have led to reductions in overgrazing.
Mr. Redwood : There have been no such meetings in Wales. However, my officials would satisfy themselves that any measures agreed with graziers to reduce overgrazing in the future are adequately monitored.
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are in place to monitor whether overgrazing has reduced following the withholding of hill livestock compensatory allowances as a direct result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause.
Mr. Redwood : My Agriculture Department has arrangements with ADAS to undertake monitoring of the
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growth, quality and species composition of the vegetation on land which is considered to be overgrazed, to establish trends and to report on whether the measures taken have been sufficient to arrest further deterioration.Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are in place to reduce environmental damage caused through overgrazing consequent on that damage continuing after hill livestock compensatory allowances are withheld as a result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause.
Mr. Redwood : The Department has arrangements with the Agricultural Development Advisory Service to undertake monitoring of the growth, quality and species composition of the vegetation on land which is considered to be overgrazed, to establish trends and to report on whether the measures taken have been sufficient to arrest further deterioration.
HEALTH -- Dental Services, North Warwickshire
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in practice in north Warwickshire (a) take national health services patients and (b) take private patients only, but took national health service patients until 1990.
Dr. Mawhinney : At September 1993 the number of dentists providing general dental services in the Warwickshire family health services authority area, which includes North Warwickshire, was 149. The comparable number at 30 September 1990 was 146. Dentists are independent contractors who make their own decisions about whether to accept patients under national health service arrangements.
Nitrites
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence exists to connect the use of nitrites as aphrodisiac drugs with AIDS.
Mr. Sackville : Two studies published in 1993 investigated a relationship between the use of alkyl nitrites and the development of AIDS in homosexual men. One study followed up 812 homosexual and bisexual men in San Francisco for eight years. The second study followed 715 homosexual men in Canada for an average of 8.6 years. Both observed that AIDS-associated diseases occurred only in men who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Further, use of alkyl nitrites had no effect on the rate at which AIDS developed in HIV-infected men. Significant numbers of HIV-negative men used alkyl nitrites but these men did not develop AIDS-associated diseases. Smaller studies in the United Kingdom have found similar results.
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being or has been conducted into the effect of nitrites, with particular reference to amyl nitrite, on the immune system ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : There is no evidence that use of amyl nitrite causes severe, prolonged or progressive immunosuppression. A study of 715 homosexual men in
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Canada followed for an average of 8.6 years investigated the effect of amyl nitrite use on the CD4 cells of the immune system. The loss of circulating CD4 cells is observed in all patients with AIDS. The use of amyl nitrite inhalers had no effect on the number of circulating CD4 cells either in HIV-negative or HIV-positive men.Breast Cancer
Mr. Sherman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will establish a high-level inquiry into the present level of deaths from breast cancer ;
(2) when she will next meet representatives of general practitioners to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer ;
(3) what steps she is taking to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer ;
(4) when she last met the Royal College of Surgeons to discuss the level of deaths from breast cancer in the United Kingdom ; (5) what action she is taking to spread best practice from the best health authorities and hospitals in the diagnosis, treatment and care of breast cancer to those areas and hospitals which perform badly.
Mr. Sackville : We have no plans to establish a specific inquiry into breast cancer deaths in this country. The Chief Medical Officer's expert advisory group on cancer is currently preparing advice for general practitioners and health authorities on the organisation of cancer services. These recommendations will be put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and will be followed by consultation with relevant professional bodies.
Psychiatric Services
Mr. Spring : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average annual amount per capita spent on psychiatric services in East Anglia.
Mr. Sackville : My hon. Friend may wish to contact Dr. Stuart Burgess, chairman of the Anglia and Oxford regional health authority, for details.
Mr. Spring : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the level of annual spending per capita on psychiatric services in (a) West Suffolk, (b) East Suffolk and (c) North Lincolnshire.
Mr. Sackville : Information on annual spending per capita on psychiatric services is not available centrally. However, information on annual spending per capita in 1992-93 on mental health services, which includes psychiatric services by district health authority is available in the Library.
Junior Doctors
Mr. Jim Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young doctors left the health service this year ; and what were the figures for 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Dr. Mawhinney : This information is not available centrally.
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals now have no junior doctors working more than 72 hours per week ; what percentage this is of the
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total ; if she will name the hospitals which have junior doctors working more than 72 hours per week ; what plans she has to reduce the maximum weekly hours worked by junior doctors ; and what considerations underlay the decision to apply quotas in respect of junior doctors to NHS trust hospitals.Dr. Mawhinney : Information on individual hospitals is not available centrally.
In England, there were 11,205 junior doctors and dentists contracted for more than 72 hours a week at 30 September 1993--43 per cent. of the total. Of these, 7,889 were in hard-pressed posts, a fall of 22 per cent. on the previous six months. Our priority is to eliminate all hard-pressed posts contracted for more than an average of 72 hours a week by the end of 1994. This is in accordance with the timetable in "The New Deal", a copy of which is available in the Library.
Regional task forces monitor and support implementation locally. I announced in March further central funding to support reductions in hours. This will mean that since "The New Deal" was launched in 1991 we have funded an extra 600 consultant and 150 staff grade posts to help reduce hours. Overall we have spent more than £115 million since 1991 to support the new deal. This is a clear indication of our commitment to tackle this problem.
Our medical staffing policy is set out in "Achieving a Balance : Plan for Action, 1987", a copy of which is also available in the Library. Its major objectives are to improve patient care by increasing the amount of care provided by fully trained hospital doctors and to safeguard the career opportunities of junior doctors. Under "Achieving a Balance", arrangements exist to relate the number of United Kingdom and European Community doctors entering the registrar and senior registrar grades in all national health service hospitals to predicted consultant opportunities while continuing to allow overseas graduates access to the training grade. This aims to minimise the possibility of over or under-provision of training places in each specialty and the concomitant waste of resources. Regional task forces have responsi-bility for changing the number and distribution of senior house officers where this is needed to achieve new deal hours targets.
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