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Nursing and midwifery staff (excluding agency) in National Health
Service Trusts in west Yorkshire area at 30 September 1992.
|Full time|Part time|Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whole-Time Equivalents
United Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust |1,230 |550 |1,780
St James University Hospital Trust |1,100 |420 |1,520
Bradford Hospital NHS Trust |870 |460 |1,330
Bradford Community Health NHS Trust |630 |190 |820
Airedale NHS Trust |740 |290 |1,040
Notes:
<1> Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.
<2> Whole-Time Equivalents are calculated by aggregating the total number of
hours staff in a grade are contracted to work and dividing by the standard
hours for that grade. In this way, part time staff are converted into an
equivalent number of "Whole Time" Staff
Information is not centrally available on numbers of trust staff holding temporary contracts.
Fundholders
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what specific ways general practitioners' fundholding arrangements take into account of the specialist needs of patients with chronic illness, mental health problems or of those requiring expensive treatments.
Mr. Malone: General practitioner fundholders are responsible for purchasing out-patient services and community health services on behalf of all their patients, including those with chronic illness and mental health problems. Fundholders' budgets enable them to meet the cost of treatment for a patient up to the first £6,000 in any one year. District health authorities are funded to meet the cost of the remaining patient care.
General Social Services Council
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the provision of a General Social Services Council.
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Mr. Bowis: Recently we have sought tenders for a project concerned with the definition of possible standards of conduct and practice for those engaged in social services.
Nurse Training
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has had from University Superannuation Scheme Ltd. regarding the transferral of pension arrangements for nursing training staff from her Department and the increase in employer contributions that will arise as a result of this transferral; (2) what arrangements have been made as a result of the changes to pension/retirement arrangements for nursing training staff to safeguard the rights under the former NHS pension arrangements for (a) ill health (b) early retirement on grounds other than that of ill health and (c) for those with over 20 years' service to have their pension calculated at double rate.
Mr. Malone: Discussions are being held between the relevant pension scheme providers, with a view to establishing a basis on which broadly comparable pension arrangements can be made available to nurse training staff who transfer from colleges of health into the higher education sector.
General Practitioners' Lists
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were removed from general practitioners' lists in the west midlands for the last available year.
Mr. Malone: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Bowis) gave the hon. Member for Ynys Mo n (Mr. Jones) on 20 July at columns 367-68 .
Health Care
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received from the British Medical Association on the environmental and occupational risks of health care; and what response she has made.
Mr. Malone: On 30 June, the British Medical Association sent the Department a copy of its report "The Environmental and Occupational Risks of Health Care". Copies of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply will be placed in the Library.
Child Labour
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on child labour; and what action she intends to take.
Mr. Bowis: The protection of children at work is the statutory responsibility of local authorities.
London Ambulance Service
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place, following the inquiry into the future performance and administration of the London ambulance service, for a standing procedure for consultation with staff concerning the operation and administration of the London ambulance service.
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Mr. Sackville: This is a matter for the management of the London ambulance service.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of occasions in each week of each month from January to August when the response time of emergency ambulances of the London ambulance service exceeded (a) 34 minutes and (b) 45 minutes; and what steps have been taken by her appointees to the South Thames regional health authority to monitor the causes.
Mr. Sackville: The information requested is shown in the table. South Thames regional health authority has, through its London ambulance service committee, monitored response times of emergency ambulances exceeding 34 minutes and analysed the underlying causes. The committee has found that the primary causes are the current patterns of crew deployed and shifts which lead to a reduced number of vehicles available at times of peak demand. A further study into these problems has been commissioned. In addition, an extra 240 ambulance staff have been recruited and trained and are now being deployed. South Thames regional health authority will continue to monitor the results of the study to ensure progress is made against patients charter's standards.
Number of calls with response time more than
Week ending |34 minutes |45 minutes |No of calls
|responded to
---------------------------------------------------------------------
9 January 1994 |113 |30 |9,691
16 January 1994 |61 |17 |9,412
23 January 1994 |62 |12 |9,284
30 January 1994 |94 |24 |9,277
6 February 1994 |83 |21 |9,801
13 February 1994 |70 |17 |9,674
20 February 1994 |219 |94 |9,767
27 February 1994 |114 |38 |9,556
6 March 1994 |134 |34 |9,549
13 March 1994 |85 |24 |9,635
20 March 1994 |128 |35 |10,025
27 March 1994 |155 |55 |9,920
3 April 1994 |108 |26 |9,491
10 April 1994 |165 |68 |9,458
17 April 1994 |133 |37 |9,585
24 April 1994 |118 |27 |9,679
1 May 1994 |164 |51 |10,097
8 May 1994 |109 |41 |9,669
15 May 1994 |176 |39 |10,334
22 May 1994 |113 |22 |9,890
29 May 1994 |153 |54 |10,297
5 June 1994 |200 |63 |10,057
12 June 1994 |118 |31 |10,220
19 June 1994 |330 |131 |10,721
26 June 1994 |306 |113 |10,738
3 July 1994 |278 |94 |10,588
10 July 1994 |165 |51 |10,066
17 July 1994 |239 |72 |10,913
24 July 1994 |123 |32 |10,696
31 July 1994 |224 |72 |10,838
7 August 1994 |234 |92 |10,458
14 August 1994 |94 |22 |9,552
21 August 1994 |132 |33 |10,162
28 August 1994 |109 |32 |9,770
Source: London Ambulance Service internal statistics
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Dystonia
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is currently being carried out on dystonia in Britain.
Mr. Malone: The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant- in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is conducting some research which may be of relevance to this condition. No current research into dystonia is being carried out by health departments in Britain.
Charities are funding two research projects on dystonia on molecular genetics and on aspects of treatments.
Gastro-enteritis (Malta)
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will name the hotel in Malta where occurred the cases of gastro-enteritis, referred to in her answer of 10 December 1992, Official Report, column 773.
Mr. Sackville: We are not able to name the hotel in Malta where the cases of gastro-enteritis occurred in December 1991 as this would breach confidentiality.
We have no information to suggest any risk to travellers since that incident and naming the hotel would therefore serve no useful purpose.
Tuberculosis
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the issuing of updated guidelines on the appropriate level of priority of (a) the across-the-board BCG vaccination against TB for secondary school children and (b) selective vaccination, and on the currency of application of the last previously issued guidelines.
Mr. Sackville: Health authorities were advised in a letter from the Department of Health dated 21 August 1990 that, in line with the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the schools BCG immunisation programme should continue until at least the 1995 96 academic year. The Government are committed to review this policy in that year after consideration of the results of the national survey of notifications of tuberculosis in England and Wales. This survey was conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Service in 1993 and the preliminary results of the survey should be available by the end of this year.
The importance of the BCG schools immunisation programme has been drawn to the attention of all regional health authorities through the regional review process; regions have been asked to consider carefully whether their arrangements to protect against tuberculosis are adequate. Details of the Department's policy on BCG immunisation are contained in the health departments' memorandum "Immunisation against infectious disease", copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consultations she has had with the Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, at the Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale, concerning the national survey into the incidence of TB and the impact on it of the withdrawal or continuance of BCG vaccination programme for secondary school children by health authorities in England and Wales;
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(2) when she now expects publication of the national survey into the incidence of TB and the benefits or disbenefits of (a) continuing or (b) withdrawing across-the-board BCG vaccination of secondary school children; and if she will make a statement.Mr. Sackville: Officials have been in close touch with the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre during the process of the national survey of notifications of tuberculosis. The preliminary results of the survey should be available by the end of this year, although fuller analysis may be necessary before the implications for BCG immunisation can be considered. The Department will receive a copy of the report and will then be advised on any possible necessary action by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation which advises the health departments on all matters relating to immunisation.
The Government are committed to review the schools' BCG immunisation programme in 1995, taking into consideration the results of the national survey of notifications of tuberculosis, until which time the present programme will continue.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has had in relation to the proposed removal of the national TB reference laboratory from the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff, to Dulwich; what consultations she has had with the Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale, concerning the proposal; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville: We have received no representations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has direct responsibility for public health laboratories in Wales.
Ophthalmic Consultants
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help is available to NHS hospitals to recruit locum ophthalmic consultants in cases where they are experiencing recruitment difficulties.
Mr. Malone: Local managers are responsible for finding solutions to local staffing problems.
General Practitioners
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received concerning the funding of flexible training schemes for qualification as a general practitioner; how many places are currently funded by grants from her Department; how many people are on the waiting list who have already completed their pre-registration year; how many women returners have entered their names on to the waiting list; what proposals she has to increase funding; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Malone: No such representations have been received. The only scheme for training in general practice is the vocational training scheme, within which there is scope for trainees to work part time. No figures are available centrally on the numbers taking this option or waiting to do so, or for people wishing to return to training after a break. Full-time and part-time trainees' salaries are wholly funded by the family health services authority for the general practice component of vocational training. The postgraduate dean funds 100 per cent. of the basic salary costs of part-time senior house officers in
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hospital. There are no proposals to increase funding for part-time trainees.Public Information
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by her Department in each of the last three years to (a) produce public information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and (b) publicise the availability of accessible information among visually impaired people.
Mr. Sackville: Costs for printing, distributing and publicising availability of material for visually impaired people cannot be identified separately. Total costs for these alternative publications in each of the three years are:
Year |£'000 --------------------- 1991-92 |40.4 1992-93 |89.8 1993-94 |146.6
Accidents and Emergencies
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many copies of "Changing Perspectives: Quality Initiatives in Accident and Emergency and Day Care Treatments" were printed; and what was the total cost of printing and distributing the booklet.
Mr. Sackville: Four thousand copies of the document were produced. The total cost for design, printing and distribution amounted to £21, 222.
Health Care (Birmingham)
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements in the physical and mental health of residents in Birmingham have taken place since she become Secretary of State.
Mr. Sackville: The 1993 public health common data set figures will not be available until March 1995. "The Health of the Nation" White Paper identified a number of areas nationally that needed improving. In common with other parts of the country, Birmingham has been developing and implementing initiatives with these improvements in mind. Just some of these initiatives include an audit of response times for coronary heart disease; £5 million recently invested in cancer research based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Birmingham; £100,000 committed to the smoke-free Birmingham project; development of a joint accident prevention strategy across Birmingham; an audit of all suicides to identify suicide prevention strategies and a large needle exchange scheme which is also collecting data on the profile of drug users within Birmingham.
Smog
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter POH/3/4368/64 of the hon. Member for Bolton (Mr. Sackville) of 2 August to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, when she hopes to consider in detail the 1991 smog episode; when the report was put to the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants; and if she will make a statement.
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Mr. Sackville: Professor Ross Anderson's study should help understanding of the relationship between air pollution and health. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has been asked to consider the report of this study, which was carried out for the Department, at its meeting on 21 October.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much grant has been made to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association in the current financial year.
Mr. Sackville: The Department has granted the Association £8,000 in the current financial year.
Hospital Costs
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the non-clinical costs of each hospital or hospital unit.
Mr. Sackville: Data are available on support services expenditure at units, which may include more than one hospital site. It is not possible to identify the non-clinical costs centrally as many of the expenditure categories cover activities which are directly or indirectly in support of clinical activities.
Overseas Visits
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are her plans for international visits over the next six months.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I plan to speak at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris in November following its warm endorsement of the achievements of the national health service reforms earlier this year, and to attend the European Union Health Council in December.
Urology Training
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the national health service executive has stopped the development of continuum trainees in urology pending the establishment of a unified training grade.
Mr. Malone: There are already a number of established pilot projects looking at how individual specialties, including urology, might organise a continuum of training. There are no plans to develop more in advance of the introduction of the new unified training grade for junior doctors. The current urology scheme in Northern and Yorkshire region will continue.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many continuum trainees in urology have been appointed.
Mr. Malone: None. All higher specialist trainees, regardless of specialty or participation in regional pilot projects associated with continuum' training, are still appointed to the registrar or senior registrar grades in accordance with existing terms and conditions of service.
Embryo Research
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (i) on what date she received the letter issued with the report on the consultation on donated ovarian tissue in embryo
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research and assisted conception at its launching on 20 July; (2) on what date she received the report on the consultation on donated ovarian tissue in embryo research and assisted conception from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.Mr. Sackville: The final version of the report was received on 19 July together with a covering letter from the chairman of the authority.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority met to discuss its recommendations and conclusions regarding the report on the consultation on donated ovarian tissue in embryo research and assisted conception;
(2) what was the number of days it took the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to draft, proof read, correct, set and print the report on the consultation on donated ovarian tissue in embryo research and assisted conception; and on which date the report was printed.
Mr. Sackville: These are matters for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Insulin Pen Needles
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received in relation to the ability of (a) general practitioners and (b) consultants to prescribe insulin pen needles.
Mr. Malone: Representations asking that general practitioners should be able to prescribe insulin pen needles have recently been received from people with diabetes and their relatives, the British Diabetic Association, manufacturers of insulin and pen needles and from hon. Members. No representations have been made about prescribing by consultants.
Blood Donations
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations she has had with the director of the National Blood Authority in relation to stocks of blood held; what statistics she has on the average number of days' supply of blood available during each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville: The Department is in regular contact with the National Blood Authority, which is responsible for monitoring and managing the blood supply. From figures available centrally for the last 12 months the average stock figure nationally has been 19,871 units. Based on the experience of nationally held blood stock figures since 1988 the NBA regards 18,000 units as the stock which enables them to comfortably manage demand from hospitals. Blood stock figures for previous years are not available centrally.
Ethnic Health Unit
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give details of the geographical coverage of the work of the NHS Ethnic Health Unit; and what provisions she has made to allocate its efforts and resources as between the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Sackville: The work of the national health service ethnic health unit covers the eight regions of the English
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NHS only. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.Disabled People
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered disabled are registered as (a) visually impaired, (b) having impaired hearing and (c) needing a wheelchair.
Mr. Bowis: At 31 March 1991 there were 230,000 people on the registers of blind or partially sighted people. At 31 March 1992 there were 137,000 people on the registers of deaf or hard of hearing.
Information on the number of persons on the registers of physically disabled people in England by category of disability at 31 March 1993 was published in "Registers of physically disabled persons (General Classes) (A/F/93/19)", copies of which are available in the Library. The use of a wheelchair in meeting a person's individual needs is a matter for assessment locally.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bovine Somatotropin
Mr. Cox : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has for changing her policy with regard to bovine somatotropin.
Mrs. Browning: The Government's position on the future of bovine somatotropin was set out in the consultation letter of 28 April which was deposited in the Library of the House on 9 June. I am now carefully considering the responses which will be taken into account in coming to a United Kingdom view on the future of the EC moratorium later this year.
Borage
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which other EC countries allow borage to be grown on set-aside land; and if she will make a statement about growing borage in similar circumstances in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Jack: Borage can be grown on set-aside land in all member states, provided that it is processed into one of the non-food products defined in the relevant Commission regulation.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the rules concerning the presence of veterinary surgeons acting on behalf of her Ministry attending cattle markets to prevent BSE- infected cattle from being (a) sold and (b) slaughtered for human consumption; and how these rules have changed since 1988.
Mrs. Browning: Local veterinary inspectors acting on behalf of the Ministry attend a proportion of market days for a variety of reasons, including animal welfare. Where they suspect animals at market of being affected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy they will inform the Ministry's divisional veterinary officer, who will arrange
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for a visit by a ministry veterinary inspector. Owners and/or auctioneers are required by law to detain such animals for inspection. If after clinical inspection by the ministry veterinary inspector such cattle are suspected of being affected by BSE they will be transported under licence to the farm of origin for further surveillance, and movement restrictions will be served. Alternatively, where the veterinary inspector believes the diagnosis of BSE to be correct, slaughter will take place at the market. Suspect animals unfit to travel back to the farm of origin will also be slaughtered at the market on welfare grounds by the veterinary inspector. He/she will arrange for transportation and disposal of the carcase and submission of the head to a ministry laboratory for examination of brain tissue. All suspects placed under restrictions at the market will be traced to the vendor's premises for the purpose of epidemiological investigation and confirmation of disease. All cattle going for slaughter are subject to ante mortem inspection by the official veterinary surgeon employed by the local authority at the slaughterhouse where provisions apply in respect of BSE suspects parallel to those in markets.Under either of these procedures the sale or slaughter for human consumption of BSE suspect animals is prevented. These rules have not changed since 1988.
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, since November 1986.
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 21 July 1994]: Since the disease was first identified there have been 133,102 confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom to 15 July 1994.
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom farms have had at least one confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, since November 1986.
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 21 July 1994]: Up to 15 July 1994, 31,948 farms in the United Kingdom have had at least one case of BSE since the disease was first identified.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of compensation paid to a farmer for the destruction of (a) cattle with confirmed cases of BSE and (b) cattle with suspected BSE which subsequently prove not be infected; and how this has changed since 1988.
Mrs. Browning: From 8 August 1988 to 14 February 1990 compensation paid to farmers for confirmed cases of BSE was an amount equal to 50 per cent. of either the actual market value of the animal or of 125 per cent. of the average market price for commercial grade Friesian dairy cows and heifers in milk and in calf, whichever was the lower figure. Compensation for unconfirmed cases was an amount equal to 100 per cent. of the actual market value or 125 per cent. of the AMP, whichever was the lower figure.
From 14 February 1990 until 1 April 1994, compensation paid for confirmed cases was an amount equal to 100 per cent. of either the actual market value of the animal or the AMP, whichever was the lower figure. Compensation for unconfirmed cases remained unchanged. From 1 April 1994, the method of determining the ceiling for compensation was modified to reflect the
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increasing proportion of older cattle being slaughtered as BSE suspects. The monthly AMP was replaced by the indicative market price, a weighted average of prices of Friesian and Holstein cows, heifers in milk and in calf, and barren dairy cattle, also taking into account the age distribution of cattle slaughtered as BSE suspects in the month. The compensation paid out for confirmed cases is an amount equal to 100 per cent. of either the market value of the animal or the IMP, whichever is the lower figure. Compensation for unconfirmed cases is an amount equal to 100 per cent. of the market value or 125 per cent. of the IMP, whichever is the lower figure. Source: BSE compensation order 1994, S.I. 1994 No.673Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries have banned imports of British beef and/or beef products as a result of concerns arising from BSE; and on which dates.
Mrs. Browning: The information is as follows:
Country |Beef |Beef/Products |Month/Year
|Yes/No |Yes/No
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Algeria |Yes |Yes |January 1990
Argentina |Yes |Yes |August 1991
Bulgaria |Yes |Yes |September 1994
China |Yes |Yes |October 1990
Iran |Yes |Yes |June 1990
Jamaica |Yes |Yes |September 1991
Japan |Yes |Yes |July 1990
Jordan |Yes |Yes |September 1990
Kazakstan |Yes |Yes |August 1993
Libya |Yes |Yes |November 1990
Poland |Yes |Yes |February 1990
Qatar |No |Yes |June 1991
Russia |Yes |Yes |September 1993
Saudi Arabia |Yes | Yes |February 1990
Slovak Republic |Yes |Yes |January 1994
Syria |Yes |Yes |August 1990
Taiwan |Yes |Yes |February 1990
Uae |Yes | Yes |August 1990
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom at the latest available date, in animals born after the ruminant feed ban.
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 21 July 1994]: Up to 19 July 1994 there have been 11,648 confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom in cattle born after the ruminant feed bans.
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of (a) United Kingdom dairy herds, (b) United Kingdom beef suckler herds and (c) total United Kingdom herds have experienced at least one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, from November 1986.
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 21 July 1994]: The percentage incidence of BSE as requested is as follows:
|Dairy Herds |Beef Suckler Herds|Total Herds1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB |51.73 per cent. |13.57 per cent. |32.42 per cent.
Northern Ireland |10.57 per cent. |1.53 per cent. |3.12 per cent.
<1> Total herds includes mixed herds and herds of unknown type.
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Mr. McGrady: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to ensure that the beef industry in Northern Ireland is exempt from the controls concerning BSE in the European Union.
Mr. Ancram: I have been asked to reply.
The incidence of BSE in Northern Ireland is such that it is not possible at present to argue that Northern Ireland should be exempt from the European Community controls concerning BSE.
There is evidence in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland of fewer suspect cases of BSE being reported compared with the same time last year and a decline in the number of younger animals in which BSE is confirmed. Any amendment of the existing restrictions on the export of live animals and beef would be a matter for consideration initially by the European Commission, which has been made aware of the improving BSE position throughout the United Kingdom.
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