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Column 1153
Capitation targets on the basis of the current formula are not available as there are no operational reasons for these to be calculated.
|1995-96
|Weighted capitation
|target
Regional Health |£000s
Authority
---------------------------------------------------------------
Northern and Yorkshire |3,150,160
Trent |2,191,435
Anglia and Oxford |2,236,531
North Thames |3,499,064
South Thames |3,383,899
South and West |2,946,094
West Midlands |2,399,624
North West |3,217,091
|--------
England |23,023,897
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a paper explaining the data and calculations used to determine the weightings for each zone mentioned in table 5 of the NHS executive's recent publication "HCHS Revenue Resource Allocation Weighted Capitation Formula".
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage increase or abatement (a) the three Thames adjustments, London weighting, Thames market forces factor and the Thames 3 per cent. and 1 per cent. supplements, and (b) the new all-embracing market forces factor described in the NHS executive's recent publication "HCHS Revenue Resource Allocation Weighted Capitation Formula" have on the HCHS revenue allocation to each (i) regional health authority and (ii) district health authority in England.
Mr. Sackville: The table shows:
(i) the affect in percentage terms of the Thames adjustments, London weighting and the Thames supplements used to calculate revenue capitation shares in 1994 95 and
(ii) the effect of the market forces factor used to calculate integrated-- revenue and capital charges--weighted capitation shares in 1995 96.
It is for regional health authorities to make allocations to district health authorities and information on market factors to inform DHA targets is not available centrally.
RHA |Percentage
---------------------------------------------
1995-96
Northern and Yorkshire |-4.43
Trent |-4.63
Anglian and Oxford |-0.40
North Thames |10.95
South Thames |7.43
South and West |-2.52
West Midlands |-4.27
North West |-4.03
1994-95
Nothern |-3.32
Yorkshire |-3.32
Trent |-3.32
East Anglian |-3.32
N W Thames |9.65
N E Thames |11.91
S E Thames |6.15
S W Thames |6.44
Wessex |-3.32
Oxford |-3.16
South Western |-3.32
West Midlands |-3.32
Mersey | -3.32
North Western |-3.32
Beta-interferon
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that there will be no delay in approving the drug beta-interferon as a treatment of multiple sclerosis if the current trials suggest that this drug could be useful; and when she expects trials to be completed.
Mr. Sackville: The licensing authority has always sought to ensure that there is no delay in approving any drug application. The Medicines Control Agency is now arguably the fastest assessing authority for new drugs in the world. In addition, the MCA has a fast-track procedure for considering new drugs which might offer significant public health benefits. However, in the consideration of any drug application, the licensing authority has to be satisfied as to the efficacy, safety and quality of the product before marketing. Beta-inteferons, to be used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, fall into a category of products which, as from 1 January 1995, will be considered through the new European licensing procedures. Such products will be granted European approvals through the so -called "centralised procedure". The Council regulation 2309/93 defines the time frame within which applications must be considered through the procedure. Applicants are required to provide data to support the safety, quality and efficacy of the product. If the clinical trials and the other data presented by the company are satisfactory and meet European requirements, then a marketing authorisation will be granted.
Because of commercial confidentiality, information on the progress of clinical trials cannot be provided.
Socio-economic Factors
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the inter-departmental working group to examine the links between socio-economic factors and health; and if she will report progress.
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department's variations sub-group has given (a) on the allocation of national health service resources and (b) on the need to promote interventions which reduce health inequity.
Mr. Sackville: We have not established such an inter-departmental working group. A sub-group of the Chief Medical Officer's "Health of the Nation Working Group" was set up earlier this year to consider how the Department and the national health service can effectively tackle ethnic, geographical, socio-economic and gender variations in health in the five "Health of the Nation" key areas. The sub-group is due to report to the Chief Medical Officer by spring 1995.
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Dorset Health Commission
Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total budget of the Dorset health commission for the year 1994 95.
Mr. Sackville: This is a matter for the South and West regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Rennie Fritchie, for details.
Primary Care
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department is making in developing a new needs-based formula for allocating resources for primary health care.
Mr. Malone: Work is now in hand to consider an appropriate approach to resource allocation in 1996 97 and beyond when, legislation permitting, there will be new health authorities embracing the functions of family health services authorities and district health authorities. That work will include primary care expenditure.
Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust
Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 9 December 1994, Official Report, column 395, how many chief executives, general and senior managers received payments from the £122,689 quoted for Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust; and what was the total amount of termination payments made to employees below the rank of chief executive and general and senior managers in the Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust.
Mr. Malone: Two payments were made by Hammersmith Hospital National Health Service Trust on the termination of chief executive and general and senior managers contracts, totalling £122,689. Details of payments made to other employees are not available centrally.
Revenue Allocations
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who carried out the research for her Department which resulted in the approval of a new market forces factor for hospital and community health services revenue allocations.
Mr. Sackville: The research into the market forces was carried out by Department of Health officials.
Budget, Berkshire
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds were allocated to projects within the Berkshire health authority for 1994 95, excluding the actual budgets for Berkshire health authority and family health services authority.
Mr. Sackville: This is a matter for the Anglia and Oxford regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Stuart Burgess, the chairman, for details.
Cornwall Healthcare Trust
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she sought from the former employers
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of Mrs. Abigail Kirby-Harris prior to her appointment as chair of the Cornwall Healthcare Trust.Mr. Bowis: The names and personal references of candidates for the post of chairman of Cornwall Healthcare National Health Service Trust were submitted to Ministers by the chairman of South Western regional health authority. Ministers appointed Mrs. Abigail Kirby-Harris on the strength of that information.
Measles-Rubella Immunisation
Mr. Coe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the measles-rubella immunisation campaign.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: Nearly 7 million school children between the ages of five and 16 were offered immunisation against disease. Early indications are that around 90 per cent. uptake was reached in the first phase of the campaign in many areas, with some as high as 95 per cent.
It is now clear from reports which we have received from district health authorities that high levels of coverage have been achieved. Some authorities have reached 95 per cent. We also have early indications that the rise in measles notifications has been halted. This is a superb effort in the face of the forecast measles epidemic.
I congratulate all those involved in the campaign-school immunisation teams, school staff, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health authority administrative staff. I would also like to congratulate Rotary International on its practical help with the campaign.
NHS Financing
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what increase in financial resources in real terms was awarded to the national health service in 1979, 1986, 1990 and 1993.
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 13 December 1994]: The table shows the increase in Government spending on the national health service represented by the original plans for each of the relevant financial years. The further rise in Government spending on the NHS in England announced in the Budget will bring the overall increase since 1978 79 to 69 per cent. in real terms.
|Percentage real
|terms<1> growth over
|forecast outturn for
Financial year |previous year<2>
---------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |2.1
1986-87 |2.0
1990-91 |4.9
1993-94 |1.2
<1> Measured by the GDP deflator.
<2> Figures are not necessarily compatible owing to changes in
definitions.
Sources:
Public expenditure White Papers and Department of Health
departmental reports.
Burnley NHS Trust
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by Burnley NHS Trust to Mrs. Maggie Aikman when she resigned; how it was made up;
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and what would have been her entitlement if employed directly by the NHS.Mr. Malone: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 30 November, at column 786. The sum paid to Mrs. Aikman was in accordance with the terms of her contract of employment with Burnley Health Care National Health Service Trust.
NHS Funding
Mrs. Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount of funding allocated to the NHS for the financial year 1995 96; what was the figure in 1994 95; how much of this total sum is allocated for 1995 96 to the Yorkshire and Northern region; and what the figure was for 1994 95.
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 13 December 1994]: The sum available for revenue allocations for hospital and community health services in 1995 96 is £24,579 million. The equivalent figure for 1994 95 was £23,457 million. Most family health service funding is demand led and not allocated.
In 1995 96 the initial cash limit for Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority is £3,186,650,000. In 1994 95, initial cash limits were given to the then 14 regional health authorities. Northern regional health authority received £1,459,489,000 and Yorkshire regional health authority received £1,661,110,000. The initial cash limit figures for Northern Yorkshire regional health authority are not strictly comparable due to a boundary change between the two allocation years.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nigeria
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on future military sales to Nigeria.
Mr. Goodlad: The measures announced by the European Union on 2 December 1993 remain in force. They will be reviewed only in the light of progress towards a return to civilian democratic rule in Nigeria.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes were made to United Kingdom policy on arms sales to Nigeria following the military coup of November 1993.
Mr. Goodlad: I refer the hon. Lady to the written reply I gave the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 2 December 1993, at column 680 .
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's diplomatic relations with the Nigerian Government.
Mr. Goodlad: We are urging the Nigerian Government to take all possible steps towards an early return to democratic civilian rule and to improve their performance on human rights.
Liberia
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives are
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being taken by the European Union to assist humanitarian efforts in Liberia and to bring a peaceful solution to the strife.Mr. Goodlad: We have given our strong support to the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States and the United Nations to sustain the Liberian peace process, and have urged our European partners to do so.
The European Community humanitarian office in Monrovia manages a wide range of essential humanitarian relief projects. The latest of these, a UNICEF water and sanitation project for Monrovia, is being finalised.
Kenya
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Kenya of the withdrawal by the Kenyan Government of citizenship from Sheikh Khalid Balala; and what plans he has to raise the matter in bilateral and multilateral meetings with the Kenyan Government.
Mr. Goodlad: This is a matter for the Kenyan Government.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Kenyan Government about the number of applications in the current year for asylum in the United Kingdom from Kenyan passport holders.
Mr. Goodlad: I have made no representations to the Kenyan Government concerning the number of asylum applications this year by Kenyan nationals. The high commissioner in Nairobi has discussed with the Kenyan Government the problems caused by asylum claims from both Somali nationals travelling on Kenyan passports and Kenyan nationals who are ethnic Somalis subsequently claiming to be Somali citizens travelling on false Kenyan passports.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 December, Official Report , column 170 , what assessment he has made of the nuclear facilities, storage areas and equipment at the Murmansk naval base as a threat to the air, ocean, water or fisheries of the United Kingdom and its NATO alies.
Mr. Goodlad: These visits, to which my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office referred in his answer of 6 December, were not for the purpose of an assessment of that kind. The purpose of such visits is to improve co-operation and understanding between our armed forces.
Special Advisers
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 1 December, Official Report, column 819 , if he will make a statement regarding his Department's expenditure on special advisers in each of the last three financial years and for the financial year 1979 80.
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Mr. Goodlad: I refer to the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 19 December Official Report, column 937 .
Intergovernmental Conference
Sir Thomas Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had consultations with the United Kingdom's partners in the European Community about the start date of the intergovernmental conference in 1996.
Mr. Goodlad: To date has been discussed formally, but most of my colleagues expect the conference to be convened in the first half of 1996.
Gulf War
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many safe areas were created by the United Nations for the protection of civilians in the Gulf war; and how many of these were not held by Muslim armed forces.
Mr. Goodlad: There were no safe areas created by the United Nations during the Gulf war. But in April 1991, a safe haven was created in northern Iraq to protect the civilian population, the vast majority of whom were Muslims of Kurdish origin.
Mediterranean Basin
Sir Andrew Bowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he proposes to take in response to recommendation 1249 of 1994, of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe relating to co-operation in the Mediterranean basin; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: We are considering recommendation 1249 in the context of policies towards the Mediterranean which are already being pursued by other forums such as the European Union.
Gibraltar
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he gave the Chief Minister of Gibraltar during his telephone conversation on 14 December about the administration and stewardship of the colony by the local administration.
Mr. Goodlad: My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office made clear to the Chief Minister our concern at the contents of a report in The Independent that day.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations led him to telephone the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 14 December; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office made clear to the Chief Minister our concern at the contents of a report in The Independent that day.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to ensure that the spirit and letter of the European Union treaties are applied to Gibraltar and its people; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations Her Majesty Government have made, and when, to the European Commission or other
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European Union agency, about the interpretation of the European treaties by Spain in respect of Gibraltar and its people; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Goodlad: We expect Gibraltar to be accorded those rights to which it is entitled by virtue of its status within the European Union. We have made this clear to other member states whenever necessary, for example over the application of the draft external frontiers convention to Gibraltar.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with Government of Gibraltar regarding the future of the constitution of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The Chief Minister told us in 1992 that he would like to see a new constitution. We have listened to his concerns.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with whom responsibility lies for the control of the police in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The Governor of Gibraltar.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the differences between the rights of European citizenship of the people of Gibraltar and of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The people of Gibraltar enjoy rights commensurate with the special status negotiated for Gibraltar within the European Community at the time of United Kingdom accession and in subsequent legislation.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his time scale for resolving the problem of delays at the Spanish-Gibraltar frontier imposed by the Spanish authorities; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The secondary checks at the Spanish-Gibraltarian frontier which were the cause of recent unprecedented delays have been lifted. We wish to see all disproportionate checks at this frontier ended permanently.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) with whom responsibility lies for detecting and combating the illegal importation of drugs in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the standards of conduct and stewardship needed by authorities or agencies subordinate to the Gibraltar Government to combat the illegal importation of drugs; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will make a statement on the conduct and stewardship of customs control carried out by the Gibraltar Government.
Mr. Goodlad: Responsibility rests with the Gibraltar police and customs authorities. We have assisted them through the provision of equipment, including two fast patrol launches. Over the past year, just under 2 tonnes of drugs have been seized and over 490 drugs-related arrests made.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are Her Majesty's Government's responsibilities for money laundering in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement;
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(2) if he will make a statement on the standards of conduct and stewardship of the Government of Gibraltar in respect of their fulfilment of their responsibilities in respect of combating money laundering; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Goodlad: We have responsibility for good government in Gibraltar and for Gibraltar's implementation of relevant EC law on money laundering. Money laundering is a criminal offence in Gibraltar. We have furthermore received assurances from the Government of Gibraltar that Gibraltar is in the process of implementing the EC money laundering directive.
North Korea
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to restore economic and political relations with North Korea; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: We have never maintained formal relations with North Korea. North Korea has, however, entered into a number of commitments in its recent agreement with the United States, an agreement which we have welcomed. Any moves by us to establish contacts with North Korea will depend on the progress it makes in fulfilling these commitments.
East Timor
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he received on 7 December from Timorese people in Lisbon to the British embassy about the relationship between Britain and Indonesia; and what was his response.
Mr. Goodlad: A letter signed by two individuals describing themselves as members of the Timorese resistance was handed into Her Majesty's embassy in Lisbon on 7 December. It gave no address to which to reply.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on sovereignty in respect of East Timor.
Mr. Goodlad: The United Kingdom has not recognised Indonesia's annexation of East Timor. We believe that the continuing dialogue between Indonesia and Portugal, under the UN Secretary-General's auspices, offers the best prospect for reaching agreement on a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement on the territory's future.
Somalia
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of applications outstanding concerning Somalis who have applied for entry certificates for family reunification; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: It is not possible to collate this information without disproportionate cost on a worldwide basis. However, there are approximately 850 such applicants awaiting interview in Addis Ababa and Djibouti, and 1,700 such applications pending by the Home Office after being referred by out post in Addis Ababa.
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Intergovernmental Conference
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the run-up to the intergovernmental conference, he will be issuing a White Paper or other public document setting out the Government's view of the key issues and the IGC outcome it will be seeking.
Mr. Goodlad: We have no such plans at the moment. It is not yet possible to say what the agenda of the 1996 IGC will be. But we will keep Parliament informed, and answer questions, in the course of normal parliamentary business.
Boat People
Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take in respect of those boat people formally detained in Hong Kong whom the Vietnamese refuse to accept as Vietnamese, the Chinese as Chinese and the Hong Kong authorities have had to release as unlawfully detained; what steps he intends to take so that they can settle somewhere; and if he will make a statement.
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