| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Dewar: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people who gave up employment to protect the benefit entitlement of a spouse or partner in the latest period for which an estimate can be made; and what change he estimates there would have been in that figure if the 16-hour limit had been raised to 24 hours.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available in the form requested. We estimate that approximately 20,000 households will benefit from the change in the hours rule for working partners, when the changes from 16 to 24 hours as proposed with the introduction of job seeker's allowance are introduced.
Family Credit
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of his Department and of each of its agencies are in receipt of family credit payments.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information requested is not available.
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long it took to process a family credit application in each region for England during 1992 and 1993.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available in the form requested as family credit claims are administered centrally. The clearance times for Great Britain as a whole were as follows: 1991 92
64.4 per cent. in 18 working days
89.2 per cent. in 35 working days
Column 1073
1992 9360.7 per cent. in 13 working days
96.8 per cent. in 45 working days
Source: Social Security Departmental Report.
Mr. Dewar: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what category of claimant would continue to draw income support if the job seeker's allowance were in operation.
Mr. Roger Evans: Claimants in specified groups who are not required to be available for work could continue to claim income support. The main groups will be lone parents, men aged 60 64, those with significant caring responsibilities and people with disabilities.
However, claimants in these groups who want to claim job seeker's allowance could do so provided that they meet the entitlement conditions, including being available for and actively seeking work.
Job Seeker's Allowance
Mr. Dewar: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether someone refused a hardship payment in circumstances described in paragraph 4.39 of "Jobseeker's Allowance" is eligible for a crisis loan from the social fund.
Mr. Roger Evans: Claimants who would not have access to hardship payments in the circumstances described in paragraph 4.39 of the job seekers's allowance White Paper would not have access to the social fund for a crisis loan to cover living expenses. Provision of such a loan would negate the effect of the sanction. Crisis loans would, however, be available in those circumstances to help make good damage caused by unforeseen disaster, such as fire or flood.
Cash and Running Costs Limits
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes are proposed in the cash limits or running costs limits of his Department.
Mr. Hague: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIII vote 4 will be increased by £45,825,000 from £2,724,356,000 to £2,770,181,000. The revision takes account of increased requirements resulting from policy changes--£43,526,000, of which £29,948,000 is running costs--an increase of £77,454,000--of which £66,474,000 is running costs--in respect of the end-year flexibility arrangements, an increase of £350,000--running costs--offset by a corresponding reduction on Crown Prosecution Services; Crown Prosecutions and legal services, class IX vote 7, an increase of £3,000--running costs--offset by a corresponding reduction on Her Majesty's Treasury, class XVII vote 1, an increase of £56,000--running costs--offset by a corresponding reduction on Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England, class XII vote 3, a reduction of £5,152,000 in running cost cover for services provided by Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) on repayment and an increase of £75,564,000 in appropriations in aid. Further running cost changes arise from a reduction of £3,018,000 as a result of a reallocation to capital and other
Column 1074
current expenditure, a reduction of £2,169,000 resulting from a transfer to a net running cost section of the vote and an increase of £5,029,000 in value added tax refunds.As a result of these changes, the running cost limit of the Department of Social Security will be increased by £81,463,000 from £2,928,784,000 to £3,010,247,000.
The additional requirements will be changed to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Disability
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consideration she has given to the report on the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation's investigation of complaints from disabled people about delays in assessment for and the provision of services under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what consideration the Minister for Disabled People has given to the report of the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation's investigation of complaints from disabled people about delays in assessment for and the provision of services under section two of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Bowis: We have seen a copy of the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation's end of project report, "Disabled People Have Rights".
Local authorities' duties under the 1970 Act remain unchanged, however, and they were reminded of their legal obligations in December 1992. We have also set out procedures for the investigation of complaints, and the Department follows up cases where it is alleged that a local authority is in breach of its statutory duties.
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was (a) the number and (b) the percentage of (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful claims for disability living allowance and attendance allowance for (1) disability living allowance (care), (2) disability living allowance (mobility) and (3) attendance allowance in each year since 1992- 93 and the first quarter of 1994 95.
Mr. Hague: The available information is in the table.
|Total |Number of |Success rate
|decisions |awards |(per cent.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disability Living Allowance
1992-93 |685,154 |432,382 |63
1993-94 |441,470 |223,347 |51
April-June 1994 |112,315 |55,253 |49
Attendance Allowance
1992-93 |516,357 |379,298 |73
1993-94 |480,578 |347,793 |72
April-June 1994 |118,171 |86,398 |73
Notes
<1> The information is not available in the form requested.
<2> Figures for DLA relate only to decisions given on new claims; the
figures for AA include first awards on review and appeal.
<3> DLA figures for 1992-93 include single component claims made
under transitional arrangements.
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was (a) the number and (b) the percentage
Column 1075
of (i) disability living allowance claims and (ii) attendance allowance claims where an examining medical practitioner's report was commissioned by his Department in respect of (1) disability living allowance (care), (2) disability living allowance, mobility and (3) attendance allowance in each year since 1992 93 and the first quarter of 1994 95.Mr. Hague: The available information is in the table:
|EMP report |Percentage with
|Total decisions|obtained |EMP report
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjudication Officer's decisions on DLA
1992-93 |633,684 |120,506 |19
1993-94 |429,415 |88,552 |21
April 1994-June 1994 |109,544 |19,670 |18
Adjudication Officer's decisions on AA
1992-93 |415,503 |92,465 |22
1993-94 |428,974 |74,741 |17
April 1994-June 1994 |109,435 |15,903 |15
Notes:
1. The information is not available in the precise form requested. EMP reports may also be obtained at
the request of the claimant.
2. Figures for DLA relate to new claims; the figures for AA include first awards on review and appeal.
Column 1075
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disability living allowance decisions in which (a) review requests and (b) appeals were made in respect of (i) disability living allowance (care), (ii) disability living allowance, mobility and (iii) attendance
Column 1076
allowance were made in each year since 1992 93 and the first quarter of 1994 95; and what percentage of all decisions each formed.Mr. Hague: The information is in the tables.
|Number of |Percentage of |Number of |Percentage of
|Total decisions |reviews requested|decisions |appeals requested|decisions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DLA decisions
1992-93 |685,154 |96,799 |14 |6,918 |1
1993-94 |441,470 |271,165 |61 |29,617 |7
April 1994-June 1994 |112,315 |77,573 |69 |5,276 |5
AA decisions
1992-1993 |516,357 |132,169 |26 |2,130 |-
1993-94 |480,578 |139,251 |29 |5,025 |1
April 1994-June 1994 |118,171 |32,670 |28 |743 |1
Notes:
1. The information is not available in the precise form requested.
2. Requests for review and appeal do not necessarily relate to decisions made in the year shown but reflect activity undertaken
during
the period.
Column 1075
Children in Hospital
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce a visiting costs scheme for families with a sick child in hospital.
Mr. Roger Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health.
War Pensions
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many certificates he issued in 1992 and 1993 under section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 for the purposes of awarding war pension to former service personnel.
Mr. Arbuthnot: Such statistics are not routinely kept; however, it is estimated that, in total, about a dozen section 10 certificates were issued in 1992 and 1993.
Official Hospitality
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total amount spent on official
Column 1076
hospitality by (a) her Department and (b) her agencies for each year since 1990.Mr. Sackville: Expenditure on hospitality, including basic refreshments for meetings of expert advisory groups and working groups and for meetings with representatives of other Government departments, voluntary organisations and public bodies is shown in the table. Separate figures are only available for the agencies from 1991 92. All ministers hospitality budgets are underspent.
|1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94
|£ millions|£ millions|£ millions|£ millions
------------------------------------------------------------------
Department |158,000 |168,151 |246,374 |218,995
Agencies |- |10,318 |15,612 |28,864
Note:
Figures have not been adjusted for inflation.
General Practitioner Fundholding
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has done into the cost-effectiveness of consultant clinics in fundholding practices.
Mr. Malone: The proposed programme of work for the National Centre for Primary Care Research includes a
Column 1077
study of the cost-effectiveness of specialist clinics in general practice.Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of general practitioner fundholding on the doctor/patient relationship.
Mr. Malone: General practitioner fundholders are free to use resources directly to improve services and secure the care they judge best for their patients. This can only strengthen the doctor/patient relationship.
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the status of fees that consultants receive from general practitioner fundholders.
Mr. Malone: National health service consultants are free to make personal arrangements with any health care purchaser, subject to their contractual arrangements with their NHS employer.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on (a) the production and (b) the availability of the hormone replacement drug premarin in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sackville: Premarin is produced by the pharmaceutical industry using pregnant mares' urine, which is collected on farms in Canada and the United States of America, not in the United Kingdom. During that part of the pregnancy when oestrogen levels are high, the mares are fitted with a lightweight harness. The collection device is attached to this and the urine drains into it. Both the Canadian and United States authorities have said that no mares are catheterised to collect urine, and have confirmed that all the farms satisfy their animal welfare concerns.
In the United Kingdom, medicinal products need to be licensed under the Medicines Act 1971. Before a product licence is granted, a company needs to satisfy the Licensing Authority of the product's safety, quality and efficacy. Premarin is licensed for use in the United Kingdom, and there are no grounds under the Medicines Act for withdrawing it from use.
Asthma
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure on general practitioner-prescribed anti-asthma medication and preparations in each family health services authority area in 1993 94 expressed in terms of (a) net ingredient cost and (b) net ingredient cost per capita.
Mr. Malone: The information will be placed in the Library.
Column 1078
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure on general practitioner-prescribed anti-asthma medication and preparations in 1993 94, broken down by drugs prescribed.
Mr. Malone: Information on individual drugs prescribed is commercially confidential. Information broken down by British National Formulary classification to sub section level is shown in the table.
Asthma Prescribing Figures - England 1993
|Prescriptions |Net Ingredient
BNF Section |(000s) |Cost (£000s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1.1.1 Selective bete-
andrenoceptor stimulants |17,125.6 |119,208.8
3.1.1.2 Other andrenoceptor
stimulants |638.9 |1,358.6
3.1.2 Anti muscarinic
bronchodilators |1,341.8 |19,491.5
3.1.3 Theophyline |2,194.2 |11,008.9
3.1.4 Compound bronchodilator
preparations |482.4 |4,573.7
3.2.0 Corticosteroids |8,526.1 |172,887.3
3.3.0 Cromoglycate and related
therapy |936.1 |17,979.9
21.12 Peak flow meters and
inhaler devices |329.0 |2,079.5
Total |31,576.1 |348,588.2
Notes:
1. The data are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed
by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing
doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items
personally administered.
2. Drugs used in the treatment of asthma are contained in the British
National Formulary sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3. The therapeutic
classifications are based on the September 1992 issue. The drugs for
Broncholidators may be used for other conditions.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was (a) the total number of prescriptions for treatment of asthma and (b) the number of prescriptions of inhalations, broken down by drugs prescribed, to (i) the whole population and (ii) those aged under 16 years for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
Mr. Malone: Information on individual prescribed drugs is commercially confidential. The number of prescribed items for asthma preparations down to British National Formulary sub-section level for the whole population is shown in table 1. The number of prescription items for asthma preparations for patients exempt on grounds of youth down to BNF section level is shown in table 2.
Column 1077
Asthma Prescribing Figures - England 1984 to 1993
Prescriptions ('000)
BNF Section |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1.1.1 Selective
beta-adrenoceptor stimulants |9,075.3 |10,125.3 |10,736.1 |11,264.3 |12,231.4 |12,526.8 |13,450.0 |15,460.9 |16160.9 |17125.6
3.1.1.2 Other adrenoceptor
stimulants |374.5 |504.0 |633.8 |573.3 |640.5 |591.2 |607.0 |673.2 |615.7 |638.9
3.1.2 Antimuscarinic
bronchodilators |373.6 |431.8 |496.3 |552.1 |658.1 |706.0 |856.6 |1,005.1 |1,193.5 |1,341.8
3.1.3 Theophylline |2,845.0 |3,125.6 |3,187.4 |3,216.2 |3,196.8 |2,955.8 |2,802.0 |2,634.9 |2,409.5 |2,194.2
3.1.4 Compound
bronchodilator preparations |883.2 |698.2 |645.9 |662.7 |672.1 |701.2 |706.2 |619.0 |545.3 |482.4
3.2.0 Corticosteroids |2,129.4 |2,486.1 |2,919.2 |3.426.4 |4,031.3 |4,391.5 |5,040.0 |6,265.6 |7,414.0 |8,526.1
3.3.0 Cromoglycate and
related therapy |1,528.2 |1,480.9 |1,427.1 |1,299.8 |1,206.9 |1,083.1 |998.0 |983.8 |924.9 |938.1
21.12 Peak flow meters and
inhaler devices |- |- |- |- |- |- |61.8 |258.1 |297.0 |329.0
Total Asthma Preparations |17,209.2 |18,851.9 |20,045.8 |20,994.8 |22,637.1 |22,955.6 |24,521.6 |27,900.6 |29,560.8 |31,576.1
Net Ingredient Cost (£'000)
BNF Section
3.1.1.1 Selective
beta-adrenoceptor stimulants |35,244.7 |39,389.0 |43,591.2 |47,785.6 |59,442.5 |66,488.7 |76,783.0 |98,538.7 |109,908.4 |119,208.8
3.1.1.2 Other adrenoceptor
stimulants |1,019.4 |1,232.3 |1,426.2 |1,304.6 |1,424.8 |1,345.4 |1,280.3 |1,354.0 |1,301.1 |1,358.6
3.1.2 Antimuscarinic
bronchodilators |1,971.8 |2,398.4 |2,857.0 |3,410.3 |5,949.5 |7,658.2 |9,784.0 |12,664.0 |16,354.1 |19,491.5
3.1.3 Theophylline |12,274.5 |13,350.5 |14,173.7 |14,435.8 |14,993.7 |14,081.5 |13,458.1 |12,708.3 |11,860.2 |11,008.9
3.1.4 Compound
bronchodilator preparations |3,674.7 |3,448.3 |3,787.1 |4,453.5 |5,137.4 |5,498.5 |5,773.0 |5,221.4 |4,914.2 |4,573.7
3.2.0 Cortcosteroids |18,343.8 |23,726.4 |31,709.7 |41,876.6 |61,021.2 |71,368.7 |86,988.4 |112,412.9 |142,521.8 |172,887.3
3.3.0 Cromoglycate and
related therapy |16,591.2 |17,005.2 |17,779.5 |17,578.0 |17,737.8 |16,954.5 |16,364.5 |15,956.9 |16,448.7 |17,979.9
21.12 Peak flow meters and
inhaler devices |- |- |- |- |- |- |378.2 |1,604.4 |1,858.3 |2,079.5
Total Asthma Preparations |89,120.1 |100,550.1 |115,324.4 |130,844.4 |165,706.9 |183,395.5 |210,809.5 |260,460.6 |305,166.8 |348,588.2
Notes:
<1> Data up to 1990 are based on fees and cover prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only.
<2> Data from 1991 are based on items and cover prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing
doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
Column 1079
Table 2-England
|Prescription items
1992 |(1000s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1.Bronchodilators |3,438.8
3.2.Corticosteroids |1,188.1
3.3. Cromoglycate and related therapy |445.5
Total |5,072.4
1993
3.1.Bronchodilators |3,731.7
3.2.Corticosteroids |1,461.3
3.3.Crom oglycate and related therapy |481.4
Total |5,674.4
Notes:
1.The data includes items dispensed for people under the age of 16
and aged between 16 and 19 and in full-time education.
2.The date are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed
by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Items
dispensed by dispensing doctors and personal administration are
excluded. Dispensing doctor prescriptions are not analysed into
exempt, non-exempt or other categories and are therefore excluded;
personally administered items are free of charge.
3.Drugs used in the treatment of asthma are contained in the British
National Formulary sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. The therapeutic
classifications are based on the September 1992 issue. The drugs for
Bronchodilators may be used for other conditions.
Dentistry
Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental check-ups took place in each year since 1988 by (a) regional health authority, (b) district health authority, on 1 April 1992 boundaries, (c) family health service authority and (d) nationally.
Mr. Malone: The available information will be placed in the Library.
Blood Transfusion Centres
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the blood transfusion centres which have been issued (a) a wholesale dealers' licence and (b)
Column 1081
a manufacturer's special licence under the Medicines Act 1968, and those which have not been issued with those licences.Mr. Sackville: Since April 1994, the National Blood Authority has held a wholesale dealers licence and a manufacturers licence for the national blood service as a whole.
The wholesale dealers licence currently includes the following centres: Northern, West Yorkshire, East Anglia, Trent, Oxford and Mersey. Wessex, West Midlands and Blood Services South-West (Bristol) have been approved and are yet to be shown on the licence. The remaining transfusion centres do not currently undertake wholesale dealing activities and do not therefore require to be licenced. In relation to the manufacturers licence; the Medicines Control Agency has identified specific work to be undertaken at the Wessex and West Midlands centres. The NBA has given assurances to the MCA on this and the MCA is content for the processing and testing functions, for which all centres are required to be licenced, to continue at these centres.
Health Authority Funding
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to implement changes in the weighted capitation formula for London to take account of deprivation.
Mr. Sackville: The modified weighted capitation formula takes account of deprivation by including a wide range of health and socio- economic factors.
In 1995 96, it will be used to inform allocations to regional health authorities. It will be for Thames regions to decide which formula to use for London district health authorities.
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes for each authority's revenue budget were brought about as a result of the replacement of the resource allocation working party system of determining funding allocation.
Mr. Sackville: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 3 December 1993, Official Report, column 808.
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the figures for revenue funding for each purchasing health authority or equivalent in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1992 93, 1993 94, 1994 95 and the estimated figures for 1995 96 and 1996 97.
Mr. Sackville: Information for England will be placed in the Library for 1992 93, 1993 94 and 1994 95. No information is available for future years.
Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Performance-related Pay
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received in response to her proposal to introduce local performance-related pay into the NHS; and if she will make a statement.
Column 1082
Mr. Malone: Since announcing our plans for reforming national health services in "Working for Patients" in 1989 and proposals for strengthening the links between reward and performance in the national health service in the citizens charter in 1991, we have received representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals including hon. Members, the Trust Federation, the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts, chairmen, chief executives and human resource directors of trusts and authorities, professional bodies and trade unions.
Cows' Milk Allergy
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that new-born babies should be tested for allergy to cows' milk; and what investigation she has conducted into such a proposal.
Mr. Sackville: We have no plans to develop a policy to test new babies for allergy to cows' milk. Their risk of allergy may be assessed from their family history of allergic disorder. Breast feeding is recommended for all babies and this is of particular importance for babies at risk of allergic disorder.
Psychiatric Beds
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that the capital and revenue costs of funding 45 extra NHS medium- secure psychiatric beds for south-east Thames will be made available in the next financial year.
Mr. Bowis: South Thames regional health authority, in conjunction with the Department of Health, the national health service executive and North Thames regional health authority, is currently reviewing the supply of medium-secure psychiatric beds in the Thames regions.
Eye Tests
Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had eye tests in each year since 1988; what proportion of these was NHS provided; what proportion was assisted by the voucher scheme, listed by (a) regional health authority, (b) district health authority, on 1 April 1992 boundaries, (c) family health service authority and (d) nationally.
Mr. Malone: The total number of sight tests performed has not been collected centrally since April 1989 when universal entitlement to national health service sight tests was ended.
The number of sight tests paid for by family health services authorities in England since 1988 89 will be placed in the Library. Such information is not available by district health authority. From a survey carried out in 1993 on behalf of a technical sub-committee representing the Department and the optometric profession, it was estimated that the total number of sight tests performed in Great Britain in 1993 94 would be 13.184 million, 50 per cent. of which would be NHS.
Column 1083
The number of vouchers paid for will be placed in the Library. Such information is not available by district health authority.Acute Units (Closure)
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether guidance has been issued to health authorities on how funds released by the closure or reductions of acute units are to be transferred to the primary health care sector.
Mr. Malone: It is for local health authorities, taking account of clinical priority, the views of local people and the available resources, to assess the level of services needed to meet the requirements in their area and to negotiate appropriate provision. We will be examining the changing pattern of service provision to ensure that patients continue to receive effective and high quality care.
London Implementation Group
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the budget of the London implementation group for each year since it was established.
Mr. Malone: The London implementation group was established in February 1993. The LIG's budget for 1993 94 and 1994 95 has been £2 million. For both years, those figures include the clearing house for displaced staff and for 1994 95 the budget figure includes the primary care support force.
Junior Doctors
Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions her Department is taking to ensure that reductions in junior doctors' hours do not create or increase shortages of junior doctors in (a) paediatrics and (b) other specialties.
Mr. Malone: Since the new deal was launched in 1991 we have funded an extra 750 career grade posts specifically to reduce juniors' hours.
The number of paediatric consultants increased by 9.1 per cent. in 1992 93.
In accident and emergency the increase was 11 per cent. and in both anaesthetics and obstetrics and gynaecology, the increase was nearly 4 per cent.
Public Appointments
Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of public appointments made by her Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.
Mr. Sackville: The latest published figures show that 35 per cent. of the public appointments made by the Department were held by women. Figures for 1994 will be announced in due course.
Visiting Costs Scheme
Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has, following the publication of Department of Health advice in "Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital", to implement a visiting costs scheme to ensure that the parents of hospitalised children
Column 1084
are not prevented from visiting their children regularly because of a lack of money.Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce a visiting costs scheme for families with a sick child in hospital.
| Next Section
| Home Page |