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Mr. Freeman : The information is not readily available in the form requested. During the eight years of Network SouthEast's existence, accidents were reported, until about mid 1993, under BR regional headings, making direct retrieval of NSE data impracticable. National figures are available in the HM railway inspectorate's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report, columns 478-80, how many of the confirmed fire incidents, for each of the years for which figures are available, involved rolling stock that was in use ; whether any passengers were using the rolling stock during any of those incidents ; and how many passengers were involved in each confirmed fire incident on London Underground rolling stock.
Mr. Norris : Summary information on the total numbers of rolling stock fires and of passenger injuries on London Underground is published in the annual reports of Her Majesty's railways inspectorate on railway safety, which are held in the House Libraries. However, London Underground has advised that the further information requested is not readily available.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 478-80, how many passengers were injured in fires on London Underground, in all categories ; and how many staff were injured on London Underground in each of the years for which figures are available.
Mr. Norris : Summary information on passenger and staff injuries is published in the annual reports of Her Majesty's railways inspectorate, which are held in the House Libraries. However, London Underground has advised that a breakdown of the causes of such injuries to the level of detail requested is not readily available.
London Underground (Passenger Satisfaction)
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to London Underground of the passengers charter in each of the last three years ; and what discussions he has held with London Underground about them.
Mr. Norris : Production and distribution of the customer charter cost London Underground £114,000 in 1992, £248,000 in 1993, and £130, 000 in 1994, I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with London Underground.
Column 345
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish London Underground's customer satisfaction figures for 1993-94, indicating which targets were, and which were not, met ; and when he last met London Underground to discuss the figures.
Mr. Norris : London Underground met all its customer satisfaction targets for 1993-4, and the figures are set out in the following table. I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with London Underground.
London Underground Limited:
1993-94 Customer satisfaction statistics
|Targets set for|Overall
|1993-94 |performance for
|year 1993-94
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleanliness of trains |81 |85
Cleanliness of stations |89 |90
Staff helpfulness and
availability |86 |88
Information on trains |86 |93
Information on stations |81 |83
Ticket purchasing |92 |92
Source: London Underground Limited.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he had with London Underground about the passengers charter, published on 28 June ; what consideration was given to including references to fire or accident safety on the London Underground ; and what plans there are to include references to these matters in the charter.
Mr. Norris : I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with London Underground. Its 1994 charter includes a new target for customer satisfaction with safety and security.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Underground about lowering ticket prices to encourage tourism and inward investment in the capital.
Mr. Norris : I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with London Underground. However I am not aware of any proposals by London Underground to reduce its ticket prices.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Underground regarding the installation of help points at all London Underground stations ; and by what year such installations will be complete.
Mr. Norris : I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with London Underground. The programme for installation of help points at underground stations is a matter for it, but I understand that no date has been set for all stations to be so equipped.
Motor Vehicle Pollutants
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the statutory controls currently applied to vehicle exhaust emissions ;
(2) what representations he has received concerning the level of pollutants resulting from motor vehicle exhaust emissions ; (3) what consultations his Department has undertaken concerning the level of pollutants resulting from motor vehicle exhaust emissions ;
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(4) what consultations he has undertaken with other European Union states concerning the level of pollutants resulting from motor vehicle emissions ;(5) what plans he has to strengthen the controls currently applied to vehicle exhaust emissions.
Mr. Key : Regulations made under the Road Traffic Act 1988 control the construction and "type approval" of new vehicles and the use of vehicles as regards exhaust emissions. These are largely derived directly from obligations under EC directives. Enforcement of in-use requirements through the MOT and roadworthiness test is effected under vehicle testing regulations made under the 1988 Act. A convenient summary of emission requirements to be met by new vehicles entering into service can be found in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1993 (SI No. 1993 No. 2199).
The Department receives regular representations from Members and from the public at large on the effects of vehicle pollutants on the environment and health. The Department is also liaising closely with the Departments of Health and Environment on studies which they have commissioned on these matters.
The Department is actively involved with other member states and the European Commission in developing a range of measures at EC level to further reduce vehicle pollutants. Existing controls on emissions will be tightened in 1996 for all vehicles in use. Also in 1996, new heavy diesel powered vehicles will be required to meet more stringent emission standards, as will new cars and vans in 1997 under EC directives already agreed.
The Department has also taken a leading role in the EU with a number of initiatives aimed at further improvements in vehicle emissions. These include improved in-service measures to reduce diesel smoke and particulate emissions ; the adoption of "on-vehicle" emission diagnostic systems to promote rapid repairs and permit effective roadside enforcement and during the annual test ; and new test procedures for new vehicle approvals, to be combined with reduced emission limits, to more adequately reflect actual on -road behaviour and to take maximim advantage of emerging vehicle technology.
These measures form an integral part of a series being considered by the European Commission that will be applied to all classes of vehicle by the year 2000. In the light of the DoH and DOE sponsored studies currently underway, the Department will also be encouraging the Commission to propose emission standards in line with the advice given. Nevertheless, as a result of measures already in place, we are already set to see a marked and progressive decline in pollutants from motor vehicles that will extend well into the next decade.
Metro Systems
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with other European Transport Ministers regarding the provision of safe and effective metro systems.
Mr. Norris : My right hon. Friend regularly discusses a wide range of issues with European colleagues.
Column 347
Coventry Eastern Bypass
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for the maintenance of the verges of the Coventry eastern bypass.
Mr. Key : The Highways Agency is responsible for the general maintenance of the verges of the Coventry eastern bypass. This is carried out by Warwickshire county council as maintenance agent for the agency. Litter clearance is the responsibility of Rugby district council and Coventry city council.
Driving Standards Agency
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of the DSA's service in the national network of driving test centres.
Mr. Key : Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive Dr. S. J. Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from S. J. Ford to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 7 July 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive to reply to the questions you asked about the role of DSA's service in the national network of driving test centres.
The primary aim of the Driving Standards Agency is to promote road safety by testing drivers and driving instructors fairly and efficiently. In pursuing this aim the Agency is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which it carries out the statutory functions of the Secretary of State for Transport in connection with driver testing. Driving tests are delivered through a network of driving test centres in Great Britain. The Agency aims to furnish a high quality of service to its customers. Ministers have confirmed that the preservation of the national network of centres is an important part of DSA's service, although a balance has to be struck between the cost of maintaining this network and the fees charged for tests.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory requirements or guidance exists regarding speed and distance limitations for reversing heavy goods vehicles involved in road maintenance or repair work.
Mr. Key : There are no statutory requirements governing the speed or distance of reversing vehicles. However, the highway code says that drivers should reverse with care, and if they cannot see clearly, they should get someone to guide them. This is particularly relevant for large vehicles.
On road maintenance and repair work, as on other contract work, contractors are bound by health and safety legislation to assess the risk to staff and others of the work activities and to produce safe working procedures to minimise any risk. In certain circumstances, limitations may be placed under the contract on the distance which vehicles are allowed to reverse for operational reasons ; and it is normal to have a maximum speed limit through the site.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to require heavy goods vehicles to be fitted with reversing alarms, reversing lights or be accompanied by a pedestrian look- out when reversing.
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Mr. Key : Reversing alarms may be fitted as an aid to safety on heavy goods vehicles over 2 tonnes gross weight and to other categories of vehicles where the driver's vision might be obscured by the size or shape of the vehicle. Reversing lamps are permitted on all vehicles.
The prime responsibility for ensuring that reversing is carried out safely rests with the driver. The clear advice given in the highway code should be followed : drivers should reverse with care, and if they cannot see clearly, they should get someone to guide them.
Crossrail
Mr. Lidington : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he now envisages the crossrail project being taken forward ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor : In view of the fact that the private Bill originally promoted by London Underground and British Rail cannot now be progressed, I have agreed with the promoters that they should instead seek powers for the project under the Transport and Works Act 1992. They will start work on this at once. It remains the Government's policy that the project should be financed as a joint venture, with a substantial private sector contribution.
Vehicle Emissions
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the figures for carbon dioxide emissions resulting from transport in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990 ; and what is (a) the estimate and (b) the Government target for 2000.
Mr. Key : The figures for carbon dioxide emissions resulting from transport are :
Year |Emission/
|MtC<1>
------------------------------
1990 |33
1991 |33
1992 |33
1993 |<2>-
<1> Data from "Digest of
Environmental Protection and
Water Statistics (DoE 1994)
Million tonnes of Carbon
emitted by source.
<2> No data as yet available.
"Climate Change--The UK Programme" published in January 1994 sets out how the Government intend to fulfil their Rio commitments and return emissions to their 1990 levels by 2000. Measures were identified in the programme to reduce projected emissions in 2000 by 10MtC to meet this aim. In the transport sector emissions in 2000 were forecast to be 36.5 MtC ; annual increases in fuel duty of at least 5 per cent. above inflation are expected to reduce this level by about 2.5 MtC.
Contracts
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions in the last 10 years he or a Minister in his Department has given a direction to civil servants to award a contract against the advice of the civil service ; what was the subject matter of the contract and its value ; and when it was awarded.
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Rail Disputes
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he has had with the chairman of Railtrack and the Health and Safety Commission concerning the instituting of an independent testing procedure for non-signalmen or taking control of panel boxes during periods of industrial dispute.
Mr. Freeman : The duty to ensure the competence of employees to carry out safety critical work rests with the employer, under the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994.
The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has carried out checks to ensure that Railtrack, as the employer of signalmen, allows only competent persons to take charge of panel boxes during periods of industrial dispute. The railway inspectorate will continue to carry out checks, as necessary.
Road Surfaces
Mr. David Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made of the comparative costs of road resurfacing as between conventional asphalt surfaces and porous asphalt ; what plans he has for a further use of porous asphalt in order to reduce road noise ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key [holding answer 20 June 1994] : This question concerning road surfacings is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my right hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Howell, dated 7 July 1994 The Minister for Roads and Traffic, Mr. Robert Key, has asked me to write to you in response to your question relating to comparative cost of porous asphalt and its use.
The Highways Agency monitors the cost of porous asphalt on contracts. These studies indicate that, for heavily trafficked trunk roads, the comparative cost of porous asphalt can be between 50 per cent. to 100 per cent. more expensive than conventional asphalt surfaces. This relates to the cost of the material itself. There are additional costs for increased road thickness to compensate for the lower strength of porous asphalt surfacing and for provision of appropriate drainage. While there are also indications that additional winter maintenance will be needed figures are not yet available for this.
The criteria for using porous asphalt were presented by the Minister to the House in the adjournment debate on 15 May 1992 and permit use where conditions are suitable and it is cost effective. They are set down more fully in Press Notice No. 204 issued on the 28 July 1992 a copy of which I attach. Porous asphalt surfacing is being considered for use on schemes within the criteria laid down.
Highways Agency
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of Department of Environment typists used by the Highways Agency ; and what is the total cost per year of this.
Mr. Key : As this is a matter for the Highways Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Lady direct.
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Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 7 July 1994.The London offices of the Highways Agency make no use of DOE typists, and neither do the Agency's Regional Offices in Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol and Nottingham. The situation in Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle differs as follows :
Manchester ; the Agency meets the cost of 6 DOE typists for which we expect to pay £81,318 in 1994/95.
Leeds ; the Agency meets the cost of 3 typists plus half the costs of a typing manager which, for 1994/95 will be £55,731, and £11,773, respectively.
Newcastle ; the Agency has use of a DOE typing pool under a service agreement. The cost of this service for 1994/95, based on accepted usage patterns, will be £87,594.
SCOTLAND
Local Government Finance
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish tables showing the current loan debt of each Scottish local authority in respect of their (a) general services capital programmes, (b) housing accounts and (c) other accounts, including those to which specific grant is paid ; if in the case of (a) he will express this in terms of (i) total debt, (ii) annual repayment charges and (iii) annual cost to each eligible council tax payer ; if in the case of (b) he will express this in terms of (i) total debt, (ii) annual repayment charges and (iii) annual burden on each tenant of that authority ; if in the case of (c) he will specify the name of the account or programme and express the current fiscal situation in terms of (i) total debt, (ii) annual repayment charges and (iii) annual burden on each relevant individual ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : The tables give the latest available information separately for general fund services--excluding domestic sewerage--housing revenue account, water and sewerage services. Footnotes to the tables explain the source and derivation of the figures shown. Loan charges on general fund services are taken into account in the distribution of aggregate external finance to individual local authorities and the level of each authority's debt on these services has little or no effect on the level of council tax.
General Fund
|Capital debt<1>|Loan charges<2>
|outstanding at |1993-94
|31 March 1993 |(excluding
|(excluding |domestic
|domestic |sewerage)
|sewerage)
|(£000) |(£000)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland |4,301,088 |652,406
Borders |77,820 |11,781
Central |127,988 |19,262
Dumfries and Galloway |93,410 |13,489
Fife |187,636 |27,392
Grampian |304,285 |45,652
Highland |181,661 |27,276
Lothian |423,144 |65,043
Strathclyde |1,268,029 |193,542
Tayside |177,980 |29,514
Orkney |0 |6,565
Shetland |0 |7,350
Western Isles |86,210 |14,061
Berwickshire |3,631 |716
Ettrick and Lauderdale |6,392 |917
Roxburgh |8,873 |1,186
Tweeddale |2,644 |444
Clackmannan |8,564 |1,166
Falkirk |23,595 |3,583
Stirling |23,644 |3,429
Annandale and Eskdale |4,256 |749
Nithsdale |10,516 |1,376
Stewartry |2,190 |354
Wigtown |5,149 |832
Dunfermline |11,200 |1,584
Kirkcaldy |16,021 |2,160
North East Fife |12,830 |1,772
Aberdeen City |62,914 |9,431
Banff and Buchan |8,443 |1,129
Gordon |9,788 |1,512
Kincardine and Deeside |6,894 |962
Moray |10,871 |1,736
Badenoch andd Strathspey |1,481 |184
Caithness |5,068 |786
Inverness |7,652 |1,173
Lochaber |6,425 |1,086
Nairn |1,703 |283
Ross and Cromarty |17,509 |3,024
Skye and Lochalsh |5,448 |864
Sutherland |3,864 |675
East Lothian |15,749 |2,706
Edinburgh City |237,430 |31,502
Midlothian |11,572 |1,830
West Lothian |22,021 |2,920
Argyll and Bute |34,917 |5,171
Bearsden and Milngavie |6,522 |1,065
Clydebank |25,500 |3,307
Clydesdale |8,614 |1,473
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |8,390 |1,191
Cumnock and Doon Valley |8,426 |1,393
Cunninghame |29,948 |4,676
Dumbarton |13,759 |2,650
East Kilbride |6,622 |1,215
Eastwood |4,894 |656
Glasgow City |363,156 |42,632
Hamilton |25,864 |3,465
Inverclyde |38,278 |4,992
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |13,683 |2,031
Kyle and Carrick |18,081 |3,070
Monklands |34,801 |5,639
Motherwell |37,832 |5,779
Renfrew |35,247 |5,490
Strathkelvin |18,124 |1,842
Angus |7,778 |1,391
Dundee City |38,489 |7,452
Perth and Kinross |19,664 |2,828
Sources: Capital debt outstanding returns (CDO 93).
<2> Provisional outturns 1993-94.
Column 352
Housing
|<1>Capital debt|<1>Loan charges|Rent burden
|31 April 1994 |1994-95 |per house
|<2>per annum
|£ thousands |£ thousands |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland |3,867,414 |503,170
Orkney Islands |7,314 |912 |793.04
Shetland Islands |56,197 |5,535 |2,222.16
Western Isles |44,898 |6,426
Berwickshire |9,795 |1,416 |667.92
Ettrick and Lauderdale |15,898 |1,993 |571.22
Roxburgh |46,037 |4,755 |1,045.28
Tweeddale |5,139 |597 |497.79
Clackmannan |29,356 |4,448 |626.48
Falkirk |102,506 |15,091 |620.80
Stirling |49,912 |7,281 |774.62
Annandale and
Eskdale |34,798 |5,114 |1,247.25
Nithsdale |37,304 |4,858 |789.95
Stewartry |15,746 |1,905 |943.44
Wigtown |23,774 |3,358 |936.66
Dunfermline |57,196 |8,576 |549.96
Kirkcaldy |80,951 |10,900 |577.84
North East Fife |26,546 |3,067 |573.27
Aberdeen |160,129 |19,902 |625.85
Banff and Buchan |54,850 |6,333 |655.18
Gordon |67,240 |9,004 |1,797.20
Kincardine and
Deeside |37,691 |4,722 |1,421.82
Moray |52,058 |5,649 |670.19
Badenoch and
Strathspey |9,411 |1,117 |1,210.40
Caithness |28,204 |4,504 |1,280.55
Inverness |48,981 |6,047 |1,017.67
Lochaber |34,762 |4,421 |1,921.26
Nairn |9,370 |1,164 |1,177.14
Ross and Cromarty |60,880 |9,192 |1,719.35
Skye and Lochalsh |16,348 |2,143 |2,736.83
Sutherland |18,906 |2,534 |1,593.71
East Lothian |47,492 |6,649 |583.91
Edinburgh |258,192 |32,466 |914.46
Midlothian |22,226 |3,505 |395.64
West Lothian |61,178 |8,566 |522.32
Argyll and Bute |49,535 |6,995 |1,089.51
Bearsden and
Milngavie |9,214 |1,384 |994.72
Clydebank |38,834 |5,701 |708.16
Clydesdale |21,675 |3,480 |447.75
Cumbernauld and
Kilsyth |15,307 |1,981 |616.37
Cumnock and Doon
Valley |27,267 |4,152 |514.44
Cunninghame |72,379 |9,329 |524.10
Dumbarton |50,102 |6,082 |647.63
East Kilbride |4,863 |603 |681.42
Eastwood |7,009 |885 |540.62
Glasgow |1,065,488 |133,328 |1,075.83
Hamilton |72,532 |9,988 |605.33
Inverclyde |93,900 |9,594 |643.20
Kilmarnock and
Loudoun |52,142 |5,624 |420.41
Kyle and Carrick |61,700 |7,844 |618.86
Monklands |98,762 |14,712 |674.24
Motherwell |112,308 |18,033 |583.66
Renfrew |133,959 |15,501 |555.69
Strathkelvin |45,144 |5,250 |682.08
Angus |37,045 |4,949 |444.78
Dundee |117,143 |18,373 |688.28
Perth and Kinross |49,822 |5,232 |461.19
Sources:
<1>Housing revenue account 1994-95.
<2>Loan charges divided by estimated housing stock 1994-95.
.
Column 353
Water Sewerage<4>
|Capital debt<1>|loan charges<2>|Burden on |Capital debt<1>|loan charges<5>|Burden on
|outstanding at |1992-93 |community water|outstanding at |1992-93 |community
|31 March 1993 |chargepayer per|31 March 1993 |chargepayer per
|annum<3> |annum<6>
|(£000) |(£000) |£ |(£000) |(£000) |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland |588,010 |78,879 |10.64 |669,979 |93,031 |11.65
Borders |12,531 |1,691 |11.35 |10,716 |1,925 |14.14
Central |28,002 |3,944 |5.51 |35,376 |5,186 |10.92
Dumfries and Galloway |23,326 |2,985 |12.36 |17,821 |2,388 |12.07
Fife |41,964 |5,443 |9.15 |42,292 |5,796 |10.06
Grampian |94,753 |11,935 |17.93 |83,112 |11,682 |12.15
Highland |24,339 |3,500 |12.03 |32,326 |4,455 |13,69
Lothian |111,440 |13,983 |11.89 |117,778 |15,433 |14.10
Strathclyde |203,134 |27,769 |8.09 |262,425 |36.001 |9.37
Tayside |39,784 |6,608 |11.33 |61,616 |9,196 |14.36
Orkney |2,763 |223 |6.37 |1,165 |75 |1.99
Shetland |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Western Isles |5,974 |798 |23.57 |5,352 |894 |25.77
Sources: Capital debt outstanding returns (CDO 93).
<2> LFR 21 (water) returns 1992-93.
<3> Domestic element of expenditure on loan charges divided by water chargepayers.
<4> Includes domestic sewerage.
<5> LFR 19 (sewerage) returns 1992-93.
<6> Domestic element of expenditure on loan charges divided by community chargepayers.
Cancer
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to ensure that nationally agreed protocols on cancer treatment are being followed by all doctors.
Mr. Stewart : It is expected that national audit projects currently being undertaken on cancer treatment will result in the production of additional clinical guidelines. These will be disseminated to clinicians to be translated into local protocols. Compliance with guidelines is promoted in postgraduate education and is monitored through clinical audit, through the purchaser/provider contracting process and through national outcome studies.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many specialist cancer units exist in Scotland ; and what plans there are to increase the number.
Mr. Stewart : There are five specialist cancer centres in Scotland at present and there are no plans to increase this number.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cancer specialists of all kinds there are in Scotland.
Mr. Stewart : At 30 September 1993 there were 11 consultants in medical oncology and 31 in radiotherapy working in the national health service in Scotland. The diagnosis of cancer and the treatment of cancer patients are also provided by consultants in palliative medicine and in many other medical and surgical specialties.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultants in medical oncology there are in Scotland ; and how many are paid for by the national health service.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 1 July 1994] : There were 11 consultants in medical oncology in Scotland at 30 September 1993, the latest date for which information
Column 354
is available centrally, of whom seven are in clinical academic posts. Four of the 11 have their salaries paid by the national health service.Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the cancer survival rate figures collected by the Scottish cancer intelligence unit.
Mr. Stewart : In April 1993 the Scottish Office published a volume on cancer survival rates in Scotland. This publicatioin examined trends in cancer survival over time in Scotland for a range of cancer sites. The Scottish cancer intelligence unit is currently undertaking a further study into cancer survival in Scotland. Once this study is complete the results will be publicly available.
In addition, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer has set up a working group to examine regional variations in cancer survival within Europe. Scotland has a strong representation on this group and a preliminary report is expected by the summer of 1995.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cancer operations were carried out in Scotland last year by (a) the 10 per cent. of surgeons who performed the highest number of such operations and (b) the 10 per cent. of surgeons who carried out the lowest number.
Mr. Stewart : In Scotland in 1993, 24,084 principal operations were carried out by the 10 per cent. of consultants performing the highest number of principal operations on patients with a preliminary diagnosis of malignant neoplasm. This accounts for 20 per cent. of the total surgical workload of these particular consultants. In the same year 107 principal operations were carried out by the 10 per cent. of consultants performing the lowest number of principal operations on patients with a primary diagnosis of malignant neoplasm.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many surgeons in Scotland carried out cancer operations last year.
Column 355
Mr. Stewart : In 1993, 1,068 consultants performed principal operations on patients with a primary diagnosis of malignant neoplasm in NHS hospitals in Scotland.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cancer operations were carried out in Scotland last year.
Mr. Stewart : In 1993 there were 45,661 principal operations performed in NHS hospitals in Scotland for patients with a primary diagnosis of malignant neoplasm.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of cancer patients last year was referred initially to a consultant oncologist.
Mr. Stewart : The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the availability of chemotherapy for cancer patients.
Mr. Stewart : The clinical resource and audit group and the Scottish health management efficiency group set up a joint working group to examine the management of non-surgical cancer services in Scotland. The working group reported in April 1992 and its recommendations were commended to health boards. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House. The Scottish Cancer Co-ordinating and Advisory Committee which was established as a result of the working group's report is setting up focus groups on the commonest cancers with the intention of providing advice on good practice including chemotherapy.
In addition the report "Quality Control in Cancer Chemotherapy" produced jointly by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Radiologists was circulated to all clinical oncologists, all medical oncologists and to the chief executives of NHS trusts.
Birds (Protection)
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider extending the acceptance of the evidence of one witness in criminal courts granted by section 36 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 to offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 beyond those involving egg collection ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Corroboration of evidence is an important safeguard in our system of justice and there are no plans to consider extending the acceptance of the evidence of one witness in criminal courts to other offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Ministry of Defence Clothing Organisation
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to attract the Ministry of Defence Clothing Organisation to Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : Scottish Office officials are in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence on a wide range of issues.
Column 356
Prison Suicide
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides have taken place in custody, including police stations, in Scotland in each of the past 10 years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information on the number of suicides in custody over the past 10 years is set out in the table. There are difficulties with the definition of attempted suicide and in any case such data are not collected centrally.
|Police custody|Penal custody |Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984 |0 |5 |5
1985 |1 |6 |7
1986 |2 |7 |9
1987 |1 |7 |8
1988 |0 |7 |7
1989 |2 |6 |8
1990 |0 |3 |3
1991 |0 |4 |4
1992 |4 |9 |13
1993 |1 |5 |6
Timber
Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government are taking to promote timber from sustainably managed forests.
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