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Column 301
Table (a) Number of children's homes
|Local Authority|Voluntary |Private |Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Wales<1> |53 |5 |n/a |58
(ii) Scotland<2> |116 |37 |n/a |153
(iii) England<3> |950 |170 |180 |1,300
(iv) Northern Ireland<4> |21 |13 |n/a |34
<1> From "Activities of Social Services Departments: Year ended 31 March 1992" published by the Welsh
Office. The number of private homes is not available.
<2> From Statistical Bulletins SWK/SC/1994/1 "Services for Children 1991 and 1992" published by the
Scottish Office. Figures relate to 1992, the number of voluntary homes includes private homes.
<3> From "Choosing with Care" (The Warner Report) published by the Department of Health. Figures relate
to 1992.
<4> Unpublished data from Health and Social Service Boards at 31 March 1993.
Table (b) Total number of inspectors
|Local Authority|SSI
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Wales |n/a |8
(ii) Scotland |84 |20
(iii) England<1> |1,139 |98
(iv) Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a
<1> Figures for local authority inspectors in England relate to staff
in 106 local authorities out of 109 which responded to a survey for
"Raising the Standard"-the second annual report of the Chief
Inspector, Social Services Inspectorate. The figure for the Social
Service Inspectorate (SSI) is also taken from this report.
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Residential Homes
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) registered nursing homes and (b) inspectors of registered nursing homes there are in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) England and (v) the United Kingdom as a whole ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Bowis : On 31 March 1993 there were :
380 registered nursing homes in Wales ;
437 in Scotland
245 in Northern Ireland ; and
5,190 in England ; This gives a total of
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6,252 in the United Kingdom as a whole.The figures for Scotland and England include all institutions registered under the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 and the Registered Homes Act 1984 respectively. This includes private hospitals as well as nursing homes.
There are no centrally available figures for the numbers of nursing home inspectors for England and Scotland but there were 17 in Wales and 21.5-- whole-time equivalents--in Northern Ireland on 31 March 1993.
Prostheses
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all hip prostheses currently purchased by the NHS together with their (i) volume and (ii) value for each of the last five years.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not available centrally.
NHS Staff
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of full-time equivalent staff employed in (a) 1989 and (b) 1993 in each health authority in England.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information for 1989 will be placed in the Library. The information for 1993 is not yet available.
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding her Department provides for research into Creutzfeldt Jakob disease ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The Department and the Scottish Office fund research carried out at the United Kingdom Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance centre in Edinburgh. The unit will receive a total of £179,000 from the Department of Health in the current financial year.
Dentistry
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children aged under 16 years are registered with a dentist in each family health service authority.
Dr. Mawhinney : This information is not available in the form requested.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will restore free dental examinations for all patients ;
(2) what plans she has to raise the proportion of dental treatment costs paid by patients.
Dr. Mawhinney : The level of patient charges is always kept under review.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the amount which will be raised by dental charges in the current year ; what amount is raised from dental check-ups ; and how much would be raised by increasing to 100 per cent. the proportion of charges paid by patients.
Dr. Mawhinney : The 1994 estimates anticipate income from patient charges in the general dental services in
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England at £398 million, net of refunds. We estimate that about £60 million of this total will be derived from charges for dental examinations. Assuming no change in the volume of national health service dental treatment or the curent maximum charge level, raising the proportional charge to 100 per cent. would raise between £90 and £100 million in additional charge income in a full year, at current prices.Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the patient of a course of dental treatment.
Dr. Mawhinney : We estimate that the average cost to a patient who paid the full national health service charge was £19.78, and to a patient who received partial remission from NHS charges £14.10.
Administration Budgets
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 June, Official Report, column 380, regarding NHS budgets, if she will detail on what the total administrative budget, excluding staffing costs, was expended in each year since 1989.
Mr. Sackville : The Department's administrative budget, excluding staff, covers a wide range of essential costs, including buildings--rent, maintenance, fuel and utilities, security, cleaning and other office services ; meetings of expert advisory committees and working groups, conferences, seminars and publications ; payments to other Government Departments, for example, to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for collection of statistics ; consultancy, and staff training and travel.
Abortion
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 126 , regarding legal abortions in respect of women living in the Channel Islands, how many women have had legal abortions otherwise than in England in each year since 1990.
Mr. Sackville : In 1990, 1991 and 1992 there is no record of legal abortions in either Scotland or Wales to women usually resident in the Channel Islands.
Health Authorities
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to introduce legislation to merge district health authorities and family health service authorities.
Dr. Mawhinney : We intend to introduce legislation to enable the merger of district health authorities and family health services authorities as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to introduce legislation to abolish regional health authorities.
Dr. Mawhinney : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 March at column 416 .
Multiple Sclerosis
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has undertaken into the effectiveness of the drug Beta Interferon in treating multiple sclerosis.
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Mr. Bowis : The Department is currently discussing this matter with interested parties, including the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
NHS Internal Market
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the degree of private sector involvement as providers of services in the national health service internal market.
Mr. Sackville : The extent to which national health service purchasers contract with the private sector is a matter for local decision. National health service purchasers are expected to purchase healthcare as efficiently and effectively as possible--from the public or private sector- -to ensure good quality and best value for money.
Hospital Performance
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that league tables measuring comparative hospital performance are weighted to take account of the make-up of the local communities which they serve.
Functions Analysis Groups
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she received the reports of the functions analysis groups ; and if she will place copies of them in the Library.
Dr. Mawhinney : Final reports from the 12 functions groups were received on 31 March. A summary of the groups' findings will be made available in due course.
Hospital Performance
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish her Department's guide to hospital performance.
Dr. Mawhinney : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Mr. Sykes) on 24 May at column 121.
Liposuction Surgery
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received alleging negligence during liposuction surgery.
Mr. Sackville [pursuant to his reply, 18 May 1994, c. 517] : I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read as follows :
"None. Complaints of medical negligence are the responsibility of health authorities and trusts who are liable by law for the negligence of their staff in the course of their national health service employment."
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TRANSPORT
Rail Salaries
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now list the salaries for 1994-95 for (a) the chairman of British Rail and (b) the chairman of Railtrack ; and if he will express the salaries as a percentage of the 1993-94 salaries.
Mr. Freeman : Their 1994-95 salary rates have not yet been determined.
Roadworthiness Checks
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by location the roadside checks carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the last financial year and the number of vehicles checked ; and if he will list the number of immediate prohibitions, delayed prohibitions and defect notices issued at each roadside check.
Mr. Key : The table gives a breakdown by region. It is not practical to give a breakdown by location.
Region |Vehicles |Immediate |Delayed |Defect
|and trailers|prohibitions|prohibitions|notices
|examined
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North East |28,763 |1,951 |1,657 |3,527
North West |38,264 |2,197 |2,021 |8,622
West Midlands |25,499 |1,107 |1,019 |899
East |29,506 |1,932 |1,781 |3,315
South Wales |13,994 |676 |998 |524
South West |28,283 |1,776 |1,857 |1,942
South East |25,292 |1,214 |1,479 |2,695
Scotland |29,047 |1,885 |1,726 |797
Small Bus Permits
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many spot checks were carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate on operators of minibuses covered by small bus permits in each of the last five years.
Mr. Key : This information is not available.
Vehicle Registration Office
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 83, what account was taken in the vehicle registration office review of the needs of disabled people.
Mr. Key : The review of DVLA's vehicle registration office network took account of the interests and requirements of all the networks' customers including disabled people. Their specific interests were presented to the review team by the representative of the Council for the Disabled.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 80, if he will update the estimated cost to date of the review of the vehicle registration office and the budget set aside for the review.
Mr. Key : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Tuesday 14 June 1994, at column 520.
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DVLA Management Structure
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 March, Official Report, column 4, how DVLA's senior structure was reviewed and revised in order further to improve the management of the organisation ; if he will list the improvements resulting from the changes ; and what was the cost of reviewing and revising the structure.
Mr. Key : I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 3 May 1994, Official Report, column 468. The agency's senior structure was reorganised into functional groups responsible for operations, strategic planning and development, and support services. The new structure is more focused, has sharpened decision making and reduced costs. The fees and expenses paid to Price Waterhouse were the only significant direct cost of the review.
Highways Agency
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost to the Department of providing hospitality for those civil servants moving to the Highways Agency on 30 April.
Mr. Key : The launch of the Highways Agency was marked by modest functions for about 2,560 staff in London and the regions at a total cost of approximately £7,000. The functions catered for staff who joined the agency on 1 April and those who transferred to the new Government regional offices.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 April, Official Report, column 390, if he will supply similar information on prohibition notices for heavy goods vehicles in 1992-93.
Mr. Key : The table categorises prohibitions issued by defect.
Defect category |Number of
|time occurred
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seat belts |15
Smoke emission |841
Road wheels and hubs |2,195
Size and type of tyres |147
Condition of tyres |4,982
Bumper bars |253
Spare wheel/carrier |20
Vehicle/trailer coupling |333
Trailer emergency brake |53
Trailer landing legs |11
Wings and wheel arches |349
Cab security |116
Cab doors |53
Cab floor and steps |163
Driving seat |75
Security of body |299
Condition of body |470
Mirrors |92
View to front |90
Glass or other transparent material |191
Windscreen wipers and washers |240
Speedometer |1
Audible warning |40
Driving controls |143
Tachograph |35
Play at steering wheel |79
Steering wheel |38
Steering column |146
Brake pressure/vacuum warning |41
Build up of pressure/vacuum |102
Lever operating mechanical brakes |128
Service brake pedal |45
Service brake operation |164
Hand operated brake control valves |156
Condition of chassis |751
Electrical wiring and equipment |181
Engine and transmission mountings |56
Oil leaks |2,864
Fuel tanks and systems |1,379
Exhaust systems |972
Suspension pins and bushes |1,246
Suspension spring units and linkages |2,154
Attachment of sprint units, linkages and sub-frames |2,158
Shock absorbers |219
Axles, stub axles and wheel bearings |293
Steering linkage |1,669
Steering gear |289
Power steering |412
Transmission |841
Mechanical brake components |1,715
Brake actuators |2,734
Braking systems and components |6,046
Rear markings |20
Front position lamps |445
Rear position lamps |908
Reflectors |99
Direction indicators |776
Aim of headlamps |437
Headlamps |1,165
Stop lamps |1,486
Trailer parking brake |405
Service brake performance |2,644
Secondary brake performance |1,105
Parking brake performance |1,570
Transport Research Laboratory
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 March, Official Report, column 3, regarding the appointment of a temporary financial director in the Transport Research Laboratory, who took the decision to make the appointment.
Mr. Key : In line with the terms of the framework document for the Transport Research Laboratory the decision to appoint a temporary financial director was made by the principal establishment and finance officer of the Department, in consultation with the chief executive of the Transport Research Laboratory.
Spofforth Bypass
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was North Yorkshire county council's estimate for building the Spofforth bypass in 1988 ; and what has been their subsequent estimates for each of the last six years.
Mr. Key : North Yorkshire county council first submitted an estimate for Spofforth bypass to my Department in 1988 for the financial year 1989- 90. This was for the sum of £1.199 million. Subsequent estimates are as follows :
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|£ million
------------------------------
1990-91 |1.920
1991-92 |2.035
1992-93 |1.976
1993-94 |3.394
1994-95 |3.220
Coach Safety
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 20 May, Official Report, column 596, if he will make it his policy to make an assessment of the safety benefits of anti-crush zones in place of rear seats of coaches.
Road Pricing Schemes
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has sought evidence from Spain as to the effects of road pricing schemes.
Mr. Key : The Green Paper, "Paying for Better Motorways", Cm 2200, reviewed the experience of tolling in a number of countries, including Spain. We found no cases which would provide a reliable indication of the likely effects of tolling in this country. In Spain, tolled roads were planned and constructed as such, and average toll levels are around 10p per mile for cars, well in excess of the highest illustrative figure of 1.5p per mile quoted in the Green Paper for tolling the existing motorway network in Great Britain.
Marine Safety
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the results of the survey on port reception facilities by the Marine Safety Agency will be published ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The survey on port reception facilities being undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency is in two parts ; a survey questionnaire and an independent research project to assess the quality of the facilities provided. The results of the research project will be published when it is completed in September 1994.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of ships entering United Kingdom ports request the use of oily waste reception facilities and other reception facilities ; and how many, and what proportion, actually use them.
Mr. Norris : The Marine Safety Agency does not maintain statistics of the number of ships requesting and using oily waste and other reception facilities at United Kingdom ports and this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The research currently being undertaken to assess the quality of facilities provided in United Kingdom ports will, however, identify whether any specific restrictions are placed on the use of the facilities provided. Results of the research project will be published when it is completed in September 1994.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the charges imposed by each port for the use of oily waste reception facilities.
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Mr. Norris : The Marine Safety Agency is currently undertaking a comprehensive survey to assess the quality of reception facilities provided in United Kingdom ports. The survey will indicate the level of charges for the use of oily waste reception facilities and the extent to which they are integrated into harbour fees. Consideration will be given as to what useful information might be published when the results of the survey have been evaluated.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ports which require pre-sorting of waste before ships can use oily waste reception facilities.
Mr. Norris : The nature of oily waste reception facilities is such that pre-sorting is not necessary.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has done of the cost-effectiveness for potential users of port waste facilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The Department commissioned research into the provision of reception facilities in United Kingdom ports in September 1991. This survey on oily waste and garbage reception facilities, undertaken by Liverpool university, concluded that at the ports visited facilities existed or could be made available to meet the requirements of MARPOL. There was no evidence of a policy of overcharging, but the arrangements for small amounts of garbage were not considered adequate. The research currently being undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency into port reception facilities will provide a comprehensive picture of the current situation.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Scotch Whisky
3. Dr. Hampson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what impact the recent GATT agreement will have on the Scotch whisky industry.
Mr. Soames : I am delighted that exports of Scotch whisky are at record levels.
The tariff cuts we obtained in the GATT agreement will help the industry to build on this fine achievement.
Agricultural Tenancies
9. Mr. Pike : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions she has had with the National Farmers Union regarding changes in agricultural tenancies.
Mr. Jack : My right hon. Friend has frequent contact with the National Farmers Union on various matters. I am pleased to say that we are in complete agreement on the need for reform of agricultural tenancy law.
Common Agricultural Policy
14. Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the effect of enlargement of the European Community on the common agricultural policy.
Mr. Jack : Accession by Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway is unlikely to have major implications for the CAP.
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But the further enlargement of the Union to include the countries of central and eastern Europe would, I believe, require fundamental changes to the present CAP.Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals she has for further reform of the CAP.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I am pressing for further reforms to the common agricultural policy, both in the beef sector and in those sectors not reformed in 1992, particularly sugar, wine, olive oil and fruit and vegetables.
Reform is necessary to reduce costs and to bring these sectors closer to the market.
In the longer term, I shall press for support prices to be further reduced so as to bring supply and demand into better balance and so make supply controls, such as quotas and set-aside, redundant.
Horticulture Industry
15. Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps can be taken to strengthen the horticulture industry.
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