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Durham University Business School
Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants or other payments have been made to the Durham university business school and for what purposes by the Northern regional health authority under its present chairman.
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Mr. Sackville : This is a local matter for the Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Greetham, chairman of the authority, for details.
Abortions
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of Northern Ireland have obtained abortions in England and Wales in each year since 1968 ; and what is the total number.
Mr. Sackville : The information requested is published for 1970 to 1973 in The Registrar General's Statistical Review of England and Wales, Supplement on Abortion' (Table 15) ;
1974 to 1980 in Abortion Statistics', OPCS series AB nos. 1-7 (Table 6.11) ;
1981 to 1991 in Abortion Statistics' OPCS series AB nos. 8-18 (Table 25) ; and
1992 in Legal abortions 1992', OPCS Monitor AB 94/1 (Table 6). Copies are available in the Library.
Ministerial Visits
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas visits she and each of her Ministers have made between 1 January and 30 June ; during how many she, or each of her Ministers, participated in fundraising activities for the Conservative party ; and if she will name the Ministers and the countries in which these activities took place.
Mr. Sackville : Health Ministers made nine overseas visits in their official capacity during the period. Fundraising activities for the Conservative party are not part of official duties.
Chief Executive Officers
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of chief executive officers in the national health service now consider that the information available to them is adequate ; what was the proportion in 1992 ; and what steps are being taken to improve and to monitor availability of information.
Mr. Sackville : The information requested is not available centrally. It is for local managers to ensure the availability of the information they require. The chief executive of the then national health service management executive emphasised their responsibility for the quality of such information in EL(93)117, copies of which are available in the Library.
Policy Initiatives
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates her Department has made as to the costs to industry of policy initiatives resulting from "The Health of the Nation".
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Mr. Sackville : "The Health of the Nation" imposes no new requirements on industry. However there are clear benefits of improved competitiveness to be gained through improving the health of the workforce and we look forward to seeing those benefits realised.
Domiciliary Services
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to strengthen the guidelines in relation to recommendations for disregards arising from war pensions for the purpose of charges for domiciliary services under care in the community and the means-testing thereof.
Mr. Bowis : We have no plans to review the guidelines for domiciliary services provided for mentally ill people.
Extra-contractual Referrals
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 18 July, Official Report, column 20, what information she is prepared to publish on extra-contractual referrals and spending by region.
Mr. Sackville : The information available is not audited and therefore unsuitable for publication.
Fundholders
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what savings were made by fundholders at the end of each financial year since 1990-91.
Mr. Sackville : In the first year of the scheme, 1991-92, fundholders achieved efficiency savings of £14.5 million, equivalent to 3.6 per cent. of budgets set. Final audited figures for 1992-93 and 1993 -94 are not yet available.
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the office costs allowance including computer costs given to each GP fundholder by region in each year since 1990-91 ; (2) if she will list the start-up grants provided to potential fundholders by region in each year since 1990-91.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not available centrally.
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fundholders there were in each region in each year since 1990-91 ; and what were the total allowances payments made to them in each region in each year since 1990-91.
Mr. Sackville : The number of general practitioner fundholders by region in each year since 1991-92, the first year of the scheme, are shown in the table. Information about the management and computer allowances paid to them is not collected centrally.
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Region Number of funds
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
----------------------------------------------------------
Northern |27 |38 |69 |84
Yorkshire |34 |59 |108 |133
Trent |28 |58 |138 |212
East Anglian |9 |13 |48 |78
North West Thames |22 |43 |88 |105
North East Thames |13 |23 |48 |71
South East Thames |15 |28 |77 |143
South West Thames |21 |39 |66 |116
Wessex |17 |34 |54 |85
Oxford |25 |46 |74 |107
South Western |20 |38 |69 |100
West Midlands |26 |58 |131 |219
Mersey |21 |46 |84 |101
North Western |16 |29 |66 |119
England |294 |552 |1,120 |1,673
Blood Donations
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued relating to the donation of blood by veterans of nuclear tests.
Mr. Sackville : The National Blood Authority does not consider that such persons, in general, should be excluded from donating blood. The decision whether or not to accept such a person as a donor depends on the individual's own medical history.
Breast Feeding
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations and individuals have received funding from her Department in the last year to develop breast feeding initiatives ; and what amounts were given.
Mr. Sackville : The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, the Breastfeeding Promotion Group of the National Childbirth Trust, and La Leche League received funding, through section 64 grant aid, in 1993-94 in support of breast-feeding initiatives. The amounts given were, respectively, £12,500 ; £41,500 and £16,000.
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's strategic plan in terms of breast feeding, weaning and infant nutrition.
Mr. Sackville : Our strategic plan is to continue to protect and promote breast feeding as the best way of feeding a baby and to ensure that up-to-date expert advice on breast feeding, weaning and infant nutrition, founded on the most reliable evidence and data is made available to health care professionals and the public.
Weaning
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Department will publish the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food report on weaning.
Mr. Sackville : The report is expected to be published later this year.
The Health of the Nation"
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her estimate of the total cost of "The Health of the Nation" to her Department from its inception to date ;
(2) how many full-time equivalent staff are engaged in work directly connected with "The Health of the Nation".
Mr. Sackville : Improving health through "The Health of the Nation" strategy is a key objective for the
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Department and for the national health service which underpins much of the work of the Department. It is therefore not feasible to identify either the total cost of the initiative to the Department of Health or the number of staff involved.Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many publications have been issued in connection with the "The Health of the Nation" ; and what was the total cost to her Department ;
(2) what funds have been allocated by her Department and what grants awarded to organisations to develop activities and research in connection with the "The Health of the Nation" initiative. (3) how many task force committees, working groups and project teams were established by her Department as part of the "The Health of the Nation" initiative ; what are their titles ; and what is the cost of manning each of them ;
(4) what further publications her Department expects to issue in the coming year in connection with the "The Health of the Nation" ; and what estimates she has as to the cost of producing these publications.
Mr. Sackville : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Conceptions
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the rate of conceptions for (a) under 16-year-olds, (b) under 17-year-olds and (c) under 18-year-olds in each of the last 15 years.
Mr. Sackville : The rate of conceptions per 1,000 women in England and Wales for the latest available 15 years were :
Age of woman
Year |Under 16|Under 17|Under 18
---------------------------------------------
1977 |7.6 |15.3 |23.6
1978 |7.6 |15.6 |24.5
1979 |7.5 |15.7 |25.1
1980 |7.2 |14.8 |23.8
1981 |7.3 |15.2 |23.7
1982 |7.8 |15.5 |23.9
1983 |8.3 |16.2 |24.5
1984 |8.7 |17.1 |26.3
1985 |8.7 |17.4 |27.1
1986 |8.8 |17.4 |27.5
1987 |9.3 |18.9 |29.3
1988 |9.4 |19.2 |30.2
1989 |9.4 |19.3 |30.4
1990 |10.1 |19.7 |30.7
1991 |9.3 |18.3 |28.4
Rates are per 1,000 women aged 13-15 for the
Under 16s, aged 13-16 for
the Under 17s and aged 13-17 for the Under
18s.
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Endangered Animals
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations her Department has carried out into the use of parts of endangered animals by traditional Chinese or far eastern doctors practising in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sackville : The Department has not investigated this aspect of traditional Chinese or far eastern medicine. However, the Medicines Control Agency, which forms part of the Department of Health, is responsible for enforcing medicines legislation within the United Kingdom. It is an offence under the Medicines Act 1968 to import unlicensed medicinal products from China or elsewhere in the far east for sale or supply within the United Kingdom, except where the product has been requested by a registered practitioner on behalf of a particular patient of his. When products are brought to its attention which contravene or appear to contravene the Medicines Act, the agency investigates and takes appropriate action.
The agency is not presently aware that any unlicensed products, containing parts of endangered animals and for which medicinal claims are made, are being brought to or sold in the United Kingdom.
Travel Costs
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 18 July, Official Report, column 21, what information her Department maintains on the cost of travel by Department of Health and NHS executive staff between Leeds and London.
Mr. Sackville : The Department does not record separately the costs of staff travel between Leeds and London.
Dental Services
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of people in Great Britain were registered with dentists in (a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Sackville : Registration with a general dental practitioner was not required until October 1990 and information is not available centrally for 1979 and 1985. In May 1994, the latest date available, 57.41 per cent. of the population of Great Britain was registered with a general dental practitioner.
Violent Crime (Victims)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make arrangements to ensure that victims of violent crime who need dental treatment as a result of their injuries are included in the categories of people who are automatically entitled to free dental treatment ;
(2) if she will make arrangements to ensure that victims of violent crime who need help with hospital travel costs as a result of their injuries are included in the categories of people who are automatically entitled to help with travel costs.
(3) if she will make arrangements to ensure that victims of violent crime who need NHS prescriptions as a result of their injuries are included in the categories of people who are automatically entitled to free prescriptions ;
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(4) if she will make arrangements to ensure that victims of violent crime who need a sight test or an NHS voucher for new spectacles as a result of their injuries are included in the categories of people who are automatically entitled to a free sight test or an NHS voucher for new spectacles.Mr. Sackville : We have no plans to do so.
Child Care
Ms Ann Coffey : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations govern (a) the placement of a child by a local authority on a fee-paying basis with two adults who are partners, and who are offering care for three children as a private children's home unregistrable under the Children Act 1989 and (b) the placement of a child by a local authority with two adults who are partners and are offering care for three children.
Mr. Bowis : Any placement of a child by a local authority under the Children Act is governed by the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991, the Review of Children's Cases Regulations 1991, the Representations Procedures (Children) Regulations 1991, the Contact with Children Regulations 1991 and the Definition of Independent Visitors (Children) Regulations 1991. In some circumstances, the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991 also apply.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Compensation Recovery Unit
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what target has been set for the compensation recovery unit for its operations for the current year.
Mr. Hague : There is no monetary target set for the compensation recovery unit. On the basis of past trends, it is estimated that recoveries for the current financial year will be almost £100 million. The unit has a target to issue certificates of total benefit paid within four weeks in at least 99.5 per cent. of cases it handles.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the income of the compensation recovery unit arises from cases involved (a) industrial disease, (b) medical negligence, (c) road traffic injury, (d) industrial injury and (e) other sources.
Mr. Hague : The administration of the compensation recovery unit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 21 July 1994 :
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much of the income under the Compensation Recovery Scheme arisesfrom industrial disease, medical negligence, road traffic injury, industrial injury and other sources.
The amounts recovered in the financial year 1993-94 are given below.
|Amount
|recovered
Category |£ million
----------------------------------------
Industrial injury |39.4
Road traffic injury |29.8
Medical negligence |4.9
Industrial disease |2.0
Other sources |5.8
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the disability living allowance unit to fulfil its target of responding to correspondence within 20 days.
Mr. Hague : The administration of the disability living allowance unit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 21 July 1994 :
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when he expects the Disability Living Allowance Unit to fulfil its target of responding to correspondence within 20 days.
I am pleased to say that in the period leading up to August 1993 the Disability Living Allowance Unit (DLAU) consistently achieved a 100 clearance rate for official correspondence within 20 days. As a result of this parameters for responding to such correspondence were tightened and a revised target for the DLAU to reply to all Official Correspondence within 15 days was first set in August 1993. The achievement of this revised target was first accomplished in September 1993. Most recently a level of 100 clearance of official correspondence direct from DLAU was achieved for the month ending 30 June 1994.
Whilst it is accepted that this revised target has not always been achieved it is set at a level which is believed to be both achievable and representative of a good customer service.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue guidelines to the disability living allowance unit concerning the establishment of target times for completing reviews in relation to appeal procedures on (a) outstanding mobility allowance and (b) current disability living allowance claims.
Mr. Hague : The Benefits Agency introduced performance targets for reviews and appeals preparation work in the disability living allowance unit in April 1992. The targets for 1994-95 are shown in the table, together with the latest available performance figures. Mobility allowance was replaced by the mobility component of disability living allowance in April 1992 and all awards of that benefit were converted to disability living allowance. There are, therefore, no targets for mobility allowance reviews and appeals.
|Target |Performance<1>
|per cent. |per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviews primary target |60 in 55 days |81
Reviews secondary target |80 in 75 days |93
Appeals primary target |60 in 30 days |75
Appeals secondary target |90 in 60 days |90
<1>Figures for the month ending 30 June 1994.
Blind and Partially-sighted People
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what action he will take to encourage blind and partially-sighted persons to claim disability living allowance and attendance allowance following the House of Lords judgement of 21 April ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what action he will take to encourage blind and
partially-sighted persons to request reviews of attendance allowance and disability living allowance claims, where these have been rejected following the House of Lords ruling of 21 April.
Mr. Hague : The Department has no plans to initiate any special action beyond the usual information services available. Major administrative disruption could be created in dealing with so many claims and reviews.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how adjudication officers will decide what activities blind and partially-sighted persons should undertake for the purposes of claims for disability living allowance and attendance allowance ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what provision is made for assistance for blind and partially-sighted people to undertake holidays and read books under guidelines set for disability living allowance and attendance allowance for adjudication officers.
Mr. Hague : Blind and partially-sighted people may undertake any activity they wish including holidays and literary pursuits. The independent adjudication authorities have to decide whether it is reasonable to meet the cost of such activities through non means-tested benefits like disability living allowance and attendance allowance.
Disability and Attendance Allowances
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) average times from date of claim to receipt of benefit where (i) there is no review, (ii) there is no appeal and (iii) there is an appeal for (1) disability living allowance and (2) attendance allowance.
Mr. Hague : The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance are matters for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member. Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 21 July 1994 :
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what are (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) average times from date of claim to receipt of benefit where (i) there is no review (ii) there is no appeal and (iii) there is an appeal for (1) Disability Living Allowance and (2) Attendance Allowance.
Data on maximum, minimum and average clearance times is not maintained. Instead performance is measured in terms of X of cases cleared within Y days. Performance measurement is undertaken for the individual business areas of new claims, reviews and appeals. Actual performance is detailed in Annex 1 together with requisite targets. Information supplied at Annex 1 for appeals only relates to the time taken for a submission to be sent to the Independent Tribunal service (ITS). A commitment has been given in the Charter Standard Statements of both the Disability Living Allowance
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Unit (DLAU) and Attendance Allowance Unit (AAU), where this work is processed to make payment of benefit within 10 working days once the result of a successful appeal is received.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons are currently working on (a) attendance allowance, (b) disability working allowance and (c) disability living allowance within the Benefits Agency.
Mr. Hague : The administration of disability living allowance, disability working allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 21 July 1994 :
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of people currently working on Attendance Allowance (AA), Disability Working Allowance (DWA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The table below gives the numbers of staff currently working on DWA, AA and DLA. Disability Benefits centres (DBCs) deal with claims for both DLA and AA. It is not possible to allocate staffing by benefit for these centres as the same staff can work on both benefits. A staffing breakdown has been provided for the AA Unit (AAU) and the DLA Unit (DLAU). It should be noted, however, that there are some staff who work in the DLAU who have responsibilities for both benefit areas. Common support areas such as personnel fall into this category.
|Number
---------------------
DWA |75
AAU |619
DLAU |1,848
DBCs |1,450
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance has been issued to Benefits Agency adjudication officers following the House of Lords judgment of 21 April concerning Mr. Eric Mallinson.
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Mr. Hague : The Chief Adjudication Officer issued guidance to adjudication officers on 12 May 1994. In addition, the Benefits Agency has issued two bulletins. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the most recent figures to show the time elapsed from an application for appeal and appeal date in claims for (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance.
Mr. Hague : I am informed by His Honour Judge Thorpe, president of the independent tribunal service, that on disability living allowance the average time from lodgement of an appeal to the hearing is 26 weeks, for attendance allowance the time is 28 weeks.
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