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Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the criteria for independence of potential contractors for community care services which must be met before an organisation is eligible for special transitional grant.
Mr. Bowis : Local authorities are required to spend at least 85 per cent. of the Social Security transfer element of the special transitional grant for 1994-95 on community care services provided by the independent sector. The conditions attached to the grant define independent sector expenditure as that amount spent by a local authority on community care services which they arrange to be provided by individuals who are not employed by any local authority under a contract of service or by organisations which are not owned, managed or controlled by any local authority or a combination of local authorities.
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what precepts of the citizens charter govern the disclosure by regional health authorities of the sale price of hospitals.
Mr. Sackville : Details of individual land and property sales are commercially sensitive and exempt from disclosure.
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Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by district health authority the figures for maternal mortality for each of the last two years for which statistics are available.
Mr. Sackville : The information will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for major heart surgery in hospitals in the Greater London area as of 14 April.
Dr. Mawhinney : Information on waiting times is collected by specialty, district health authority and national health service trust. This information is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics : England", copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require hospitals to consult with the patients concerned prior to the destruction of their medical records after the required minimum period of eight years ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : It would be impractical to require hospitals to trace and consult all patients before the destruction of their personal health records.
The decision as to how long records should be kept is a matter for the hospital concerned, in consultation with health professionals. The minimum periods recommended in departmental guidance HC(89)20 and HSG(94)11, take account of a number of factors, including the potential need for research purposes, the possibility of complaints by patients and the time limits for bringing action in the courts. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.
Mrs. Helen Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has made to the report on hot-air hand driers and paper towels published on 29 March by the University of Westminster.
Mr. Sackville : None. This is a matter for local management.
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the Government's response to the Health Select Committee's Report. "Better off in the Community ? The Case of People who are Seriously Mentally Ill", HC, 1993-94, 102.
Mr. Bowis : The Government's response, Cm 2588, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) patients and (b) psychiatrists there were at Ashworth special hospital in June 1990 and June 1994.
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Mr. Bowis : The information is as follows :
(a) 652 and 588.
(b) 22 and 25 .
This figure does not include one honorary consultant and two honorary registrars.
Mrs. Maddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children under the age of 18 years are involved in the part or full-time care of (a) elderly relatives, (b) people with disabilities and (c) other children for the last 10 years for which figures are available ;
(2) how many (a) women and (b) men became involved in the provision of part or full-time care after retirement age ; (3) how many women between the ages of 60 and 65 years became involved in the provision of part or full- time care.
Mr. Bowis : I am not aware of any research into these areas.
Mrs. Maddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of (a) women, (b) men and (c) all adults, between the ages of 18 and 65 years are involved in the full-time care of children under five years on a (i) voluntary and (ii) paid basis for the last 10 years for which figures are available ;
(2) what percentage of (a) women, (b) men and (c) all adults, between the ages of 18 and 65 years are involved in the part-time care of children under five years on a (i) voluntary and (ii) paid basis for the last 10 years for which figures are available.
Mr. Bowis : The available information is shown in the Department of Education statistical bulletin 11/93 "Pupils under 5 Years of Age in Schools in England--January 1993" and "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 1993, England". Copies of both documents are available in the Library.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has given to GPs who are permitted to provide patients with pharmaceutical services, on the training or qualifications of staff delegated to dispense medicines in their surgeries.
Ms Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she takes to ensure that the availability of the vaccine Gammaglobulin is uniform throughout the country ; and how many cases of shortfall have been reported to her Department in the last two years.
Dr. Mawhinney : Demand for Gammaglobulin is normally met by manufacturers. The Department is aware
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of two reports since July 1993 of shortages which were the result of supply problems experienced by manufacturers. The Department is in regular contact with the manufacturers and is continuing to monitor the situation.Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the generic drugs prescribed by general medical practitioners which have been tested and found to be qualitatively inferior to the branded products.
Mr. Sackville : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Medicines Control Agency under its chief executive, Dr. K. H. Jones. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Dr. K. Jones to Mr. Gareth Wardell, dated 22 June 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning generic drugs prescribed by general medical practitioners which have been tested and found to be of inferior quality when compared to branded products from innovator companies.
The Medicines Control Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Health responsible for safeguarding public health by licensing medicines and monitoring adverse reaction to drugs. Generic medicinal products are assessed for safety, quality and efficacy by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in the same way as innovator products before being granted a product licence. As part of the assessment the applicant is required to provide data showing that the generic product is equivalent or essentially similar to the innovator product.
The MCA has investigated specific complaints about the quality of medicines products by generic companies and found them to be largely unsubstantiated.
The Medicines Testing Scheme (MTS) monitors the quality of licensed medicinal products in the UK by obtaining samples of both generic and innovator products and testing them for compliance with their registered specifications. Comparison of results has not found a higher proportion of deficiencies in generic products when compared with innovator products. This finding is supported by reports of defective medicines to the Defective Medicines Report Centre which are no greater for generic than for innovator products.
Whilst deficiencies do occasionally occur in both generic and innovator products, there is no evidence from the results of testing carried out by the MTS over the past two years to suggest that generic medicines are of inferior quality compared with the equivalent innovator products.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the total taxation levied by the Government in each year since 1964 in real terms, (b) the total annual Government expenditure for each of those years in real terms and (c) the annual inflation rate for each year since 1964.
Mr. Nelson : The information requested is shown in the table.
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Government Taxes and Expenditure |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 Year Total taxes and GGE (excluding GDP deflator NICs pps) |Nominal |Real |Nominal |Real |inflation |(£ billion) |(£ billion 1990-91)|(£ billion) |(£ billion 1990-91)|(per cent.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1964-65 |10.1 |92.6 |12.3 |112.9 |4.5 1965-66 |11.4 |100.2 |13.6 |119.2 |4.8 1966-67 |12.4 |104.6 |15.1 |127.0 |4.2 1967-68 |13.7 | 11.22 |17.5 |143.0 |2.9 1968-69 |15.7 |122.2 |18.2 |141.6 |5.1 1969-70 |17.7 |130.8 |19.3 |142.7 |5.2 1970-71 |19.3 |131.9 |21.6 |147.5 |8.2 1971-72 |20.6 |128.7 |24.4 |152.7 |9.1 1972-73 |21.9 |126.6 |27.6 |159.7 |8.2 1973-74 |24.9 |134.8 |32 |173.2 |6.9 1974-75 |31.8 |144.0 |42.9 |194.1 |19.6 1975-76 |40.1 |144.5 |53.8 |194.1 |25.4 1976-77 |46.3 |147.3 |59.6 |189.4 |13.5 1977-78 |52.3 |146.3 |64.4 |180.2 |13.6 1978-79 |58.6 |147.4 |75 |188.7 |11.2 1979-80 |72.8 |157.0 |90.4 |194.9 |16.7 1980-81 |85.9 |156.5 |108.8 |198.2 |18.3 1981-82 |102.2 |169.7 |121 |201.0 |9.7 1982-83 |110.6 |171.6 |133.1 |206.4 |7.1 1983-84 |118.9 |176.2 |141.6 |209.9 |4.6 1984-85 |129.3 |182.4 |152.8 |215.6 |5.0 1985-86 |139.3 |186.2 |11.2 |21.5 |5.5 1986-87 |147.1 |191.1 |169.3 |219.9 |2.9 1987-88 |163.1 |201.2 |178.4 |220.0 |5.3 1988-89 |178.0 |205.7 |186.9 |216.0 |6.7 1989-90 |191.4 |206.8 |205 |221.5 |7.0 1990-91 |205.4 |205.4 |223.5 |223.5 |8.1 1991-92 |210.8 |198.3 |244.1 |229.6 |6.3 1992-93 |208.7 |189.0 |269.2 |243.7 |3.9 1993-94 |215.6 |189.4 |277 |243.3 |3.3 Notes: Columns 1,2 Nominal and Real tax burden=Taxes on income+taxes on capital+taxes on expenditure+social security contributions+rates/community charge/council tax+royalties. Columns 3,4 Nominal and Real general government expenditure excluding privatisation proceeds. Column 5 growth rate in GDP deflator series, which is used to deflate the Nominal series in columns 1 and 2.
Mr. Miller : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to raise the issue of the harmonisation of EU excise duties on alcohol at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Sir John Cope : The issue of excise duties on alcohol will be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers when studies being undertaken by the Commission in accordance with article 8 of Council directive 92/84/EEC have been completed. This may be in time for the next meeting, but if not it will be raised at a later meeting.
Mr. Miller : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to introduce additional measures to prevent illegal importation of alcohol for resale ;
(2) if he will initiate a review of measures which are taken in order to prevent the illegal importation of alcohol for resale.
Sir John Cope : Customs has deployed additional staff and taken other measures to counter the threat posed by the illegal importation of alcohol for resale. Customs is continually reviewing its methods and effectiveness in tackling this issue.
Mr. Miller : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to harmonise United Kingdom excise duties on alcohol with those in the rest of the EC.
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Sir John Cope : Member states should be free to set the rates that they feel are appropriate to their own particular circumstances, subject only to the agreed minimum rates. That was the basis of the agreement reached by all member states at ECOFIN on 19 October 1992.
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product is currently spent on children aged under six.
Mr. Nelson : This information is not available.
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Personal Investment Authority.
Mr. Nelson : The Securities and Investments Board is today announcing that it has decided to recognise the Personal Investment Authority as a self-regulating organisation, and as a self-regulating organisation for friendly societies under the Financial Services Act 1986.
The Treasury has given SIB leave under the FSA to recognise the PIA. That decision was reached after receiving two reports from the Director General of Fair Trading. Both reports concluded that the rules and guidance submitted by the PIA do not, and are not intended nor are likely to have, significantly anti-competitive effects. Having considered the DGFT's report, I have
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concluded that there is no impediment to the Treasury giving the leave sought by SIB. The DTI and the Friendly Societies Commission, as the prudential regulators for insurance companies and friendly societies respectively, have also certified that they are satisfied that the PIA may be recognised.The PIA will regulate and supervise all types of retail financial services business covered by the FSA. This includes selling of life insurance and regulated collective investment schemes as well as independent financial advice. The PIA will aim for high standards of regulatory compliance so as to improve investor protection. It will start work as a regulator on 18 July.
SIB is today also giving notice of the revocation of recognition of two existing regulators, the Financial Intermediaries Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association, and the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation. The PIA will cover the parts of business which those SROs now regulate and SIB has concluded that it is undesirable for those SROs to continue to operate now that the PIA is to be recognised.
Mr. Gill : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the effect upon British brewers of cross channel trading.
Sir John Cope : I have received a number of representations on this subject which have mostly been made public. I have also noted other public statements not specifically sent to us.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce the results of his review of legislation affecting building societies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson : I hope to announce the results of this review shortly.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has about the effects on the demand for bank notes of the rise in part- time employment.
Mr. Nelson : It is not possible to assess whether there is any effect of part-time employment on the demand for bank notes.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures he has in place to ensure that employers paying their employees in cash comply with Inland Revenue requirements for the deduction of tax and national insurance contributions.
Mr. Dorrell : The duties of employers to deduct tax and national insurance contributions are set out in regulations and the Inland Revenue makes every effort through penalties, interest and collection procedures to pursue such deductions if they are not paid.
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Mr. Beith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the number of top rate taxpayers in (a) 1989-90 and (b) 1994-95, giving estimates where necessary (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total number of income taxpayers and also the change as between 1989-90 and 1994-95 (1) in absolute terms and (2) as a percentage change.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 20 June 1994] : The information is as follows :
|1989-90 |1994-95 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of higher rate taxpayers (thousands) |<1>1,500 |2,300 Higher rate taxpayers as a percentage of total individuals paying income tax |6 |9 Change in higher rate taxpayers |(Thousands)|(Per cent.) between 1989-90 and 1994-95 |800 |53 <1> Prior to independent taxation married couples are treated as one taxpayer.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) of 16 May, Official Report, column 295, if he will make a statement about the information on the regional distribution of duty-paid imports of beer given to him by the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association, and the conclusions he has drawn from this information.
Sir John Cope [holding answer 21 June 1994] : Individuals from anywhere in the United Kingdom may purchase duty-paid beer for their own use in other member states of the European Union. We have not sought to verify information on the regional distribution of legal duty-paid imports on beer compiled by the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association, although we have noted the conclusions.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) of 16 May, Official Report, column 295, if he will make a further statement on the involvement of organised crime in the illegal sale of duty-paid imports of beer.
Sir John Cope [holding answer 21 June 1994] : There is no evidence of large-scale organised crime being involved so far in this illegal activity. Anyone who has evidence of such activity should contact Customs and Excise.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs will be cut as a result of the defence costs studies ; and when implementation of these will begin.
Mr. Aitken : No final decisions have been taken on the recommendations of the defence costs study and it is not possible therefore to say how large a reduction in employment will result. Where proposals would affect employment, the normal consultation procedures will be followed before final decisions are reached. Implementation will begin once decisions are taken.
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Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the timetable for cuts in the defence budget being considered under the defence costs studies will allow for consultation with trade unions and local and regional authorities.
Mr. Aitken : Proposals emerging from the defence costs study will be subject to consultation with the trade unions in the normal manner and will also be notified to other interested parties.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many crews and aircraft are currently deployed with No. 1312 Flight Royal Air Force ; and what changes have been made to these force levels since 1992.
Mr. Hanley : There are three crews and two Hercules C-Mark 1Ks currently deployed with No. 1312 Flight Royal Air Force. No changes have been made to these force levels since 1992.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the hang- gliding site on Farleton fell, near Kendal, Cumbria, is marked as an avoidance area on the low-flying charts used by Royal Air Force aircrew ; and what is the grid reference of the datum point of this site.
Mr. Hanley : The hang-gliding site at Farleton is not designated as an avoidance area. It is however, marked on military low-flying charts and is listed as a warning in the United Kingdom military low flying handbook. The grid reference is N54 42.04 W002 42.13 (SD 542800).
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the Royal Air Force rules governing flight by helicopters not equipped for instrument flying into areas where the forecast or actual weather conditions are below visual flight rules minima.
Mr. Hanley : All RAF helicopters are equipped for instrument flying.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Chinook HC2 helicopter received full clearance from the controller aircraft for flight in instrument meteorological conditions.
Mr. Hanley : CA Release for the Chinook Hc Mk II aircraft type to fly in instrument meteorological conditions was issued on 9 November 1993.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the forecast weather conditions in the vicinity of Cape Nero, Italy, on 9 September 1993 as provided to the crew of the Royal Air Force Gazelle helicopter which crashed on that date.
Mr. Hanley : The weather forecast for the route between Forsinone, Italy and Dijon, France indicated a general cloud base of 2,000 ft with a visibility of 7 to 10 km reducing to 4 km in rain and mist with a small probability of thunderstorms.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected publication date of the report of the
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investigation into the collision between a Royal Air Force Tornado and a civilian helicopter over Cumbria on 23 June 1993.Mr. Hanley : The air accident investigation branch of the Department of Transport published its report of this collision on 7 June 1994. A summary of the RAF board of inquiry will be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the administrative action taken against the crew of the Gazelle helicopter which crashed on 9 September 1993.
Mr. Hanley : It is not my Department's policy to reveal details of administrative action taken against RAF personnel involved in flying incidents, although action is taken wherever it is considered appropriate.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations, operating units and types of radar equipment forming the Falkland Islands air defence ground environment.
Mr. Hanley : It is not our practice to release operational information of this nature.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many interceptions of aircraft apparently breaching the Bosnian no-fly zone have been made by Royal Air Force Tornado F3s during Operation Deny Flight ; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances of each such interception.
Mr. Hanley : Operation Deny Flight is the NATO operation to monitor and enforce the air exclusion zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. NATO's operational incident statistics for this task are not broken down by national aircraft, nor are separate records kept on the nature of each incident.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Royal Air Force Tornado GR1 fleet is currently equipped with the NAVSTAR global positioning system.
Mr. Aitken : Of the 96 established aircraft and eight in-use reserves on front-line Tornado GR1 squadrons, 43 aircraft are currently GPS -capable. For the future, we plan to integrate GPS equipment to all aircraft upgraded under the Tornado MLU programme.
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