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Parliamentary Answers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parliamentary answers on health issues have been refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost or information not being held centrally (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of all health answers in each of the last five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 1 February 1995]: The number of parliamentary questions on readily identifiable health issues in each of the last five years for which it was not possible to provide an answer because of disproportionate cost is as follows:
Session |Number |Percentage -------------------------------------------- 1989-90 |2 |0.6 1990-91 |4 |1.1 1991-92 |0 |0 1992-93 |2 |0.6 1993-94 |5 |1.1
In addition, the following parliamentary questions were not given a full answer because the information requested was not held centrally:
Session |Number |Percentage -------------------------------------------- 1989-90 |12 |3.6 1990-91 |13 |3.7 1991-92 |5 |4.3 1992-93 |15 |4.3 1993-94 |35 |7.6
Electric Shock Equipment
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made that guidelines relating to the manufacture, marketing and supply of (a) electro-shock weapons and (b) instruments of torture are being fully complied with; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what further steps he is taking to review the operation of guidelines relating to the manufacture, marketing and supply of (a) electro-shock weapons and (b) weapons of torture; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 30 January 1995]: Electric shock weapons are prohibited by section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, and cannot be possessed, manufactured or sold without the authority of the Secretary of State. The procedures for granting or refusing authority to possess prohibited weapons are kept under regular review.
It is not practicable to control trade in the wide range of goods which could be misused for the purposes of torture. The Government are willing to look at any tangible evidence of British companies knowingly involved in supplying materials and expertise for the purposes of repression.
British Rail
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in respect of his meeting with the chairman of British Rail on 24 January (a) the specific issues which were discussed, (b) the conclusions arrived at over each and (c) when he next plans to discuss these and other related matters with the chairman.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 30 January 1995]: My right hon. Friend and I discussed with the chairman of British Rail a wide range of topics relating to railway matters affecting Scotland. The meeting was private. Further contacts will be arranged as necessary.
Commercial Lobbying
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in the last four months he or any of his Ministers have been approached by commercial lobbying organisations on behalf of their clients at informal or unofficial engagements.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 25 January 1995]: Ministers receive numerous representations about a wide variety of matters at informal or unofficial engagements but the information requested is not collected.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in the last four months of which he has knowledge any civil servants in his Department have been approached by commercial lobbying organisations on behalf of their clients at informal or unofficial engagements.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 25 January 1995]: Officials may receive representations about a variety of matters at informal or unofficial engagements, but the information requested is not collected.
Environmental Protection
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet Monklands district
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council to discuss matters of environmental concern including (a) the Dalmacoulter landfill project and (b) the dumping at Kilgarth tip; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Lang [holding answer 26 January 1995]: I have no plans to meet Monklands district council to discuss these matters. The Dalmacoulter landfill gas project was one of eight such projects bidding for support under the Scottish renewables obligation. I understand that the Dalmacoulter bid was the most expensive of all the bids from landfill gas projects and was above the price ceiling recommended by the Director General of Electricity Supply for waste-to-energy projects.
I understand that the City of Glasgow district council is continuing to deposit waste at Kilgarth coup. Any environmental concerns at the site are for the two district councils to resolve.
HEALTH
Nurses
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed by the NHS (a) in 1989 and (b) at present.
Mr. Sackville: Qualified and unqualified nursing and midwifery staff employed in the NHS, excluding agency staff, in England as at 30 September each year, whole-time equivalents .
|Number
-----------------------------------------
1989
Total |<3>340,590
Student population |<2>62,100
1993
Total |<3>350,020
Student population |<2>49,040
Source:
Non-medical work force census.
Notes:
<1> All figures are whole-time
equivalents, rounded to the nearest 10,
as at 30 September of each year.
<2> The student population figure for
1993 includes approximately 28,000
Project 2000 students. Traditional
salaried training of nurses is being
replaced by non-salaried Project 2000
training which was implemented in 1989,
although the student population for 1989
does not contain any project 2000
students. Project 2000 students are
supernumerary and not included in
workforce numbers.
<3> Figures include practice nurses who
are employed and paid by general
practitioners.
Source:
PD (stats) B non-medical work force
census.
Project 2000 figures obtained from
English National Board annual report.
Consultants
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what average hours consultants on maximum part-time contracts work for the NHS and how many in the private sector;
(2) what is the definition of reasonable used in deciding how many half- days a consultant may take off for private practice if he or she is full- time or maximum part-time in the NHS.
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Mr. Malone: National health service consultants are able to undertake private work as well as NHS work provided that it is not to the disadvantage of the NHS or NHS patients. Consultants employed on a whole- time basis may not earn more than 10 per cent. of their gross NHS earnings from private work. The provisions of the maximum part-time contract allow practitioners to carry out private practice without a specific limit and it is for the employer and the employee to agree the balance between NHS and private work. The actual number of hours spent on NHS work is for local agreement. Consultants on both forms of contract under national terms of service are expected to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to their NHS duties. Information is not available on the average number of hours such consultants work in the private sector.
Mental Illness
Mrs. Golding: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people under the age of 14 years have been admitted to psychiatric hospitals with severe emotional problems in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Bowis: "Severe emotional problems" is not a term used in the collection of information.
Senior Citizens
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to implement the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1993 in full, with particular reference to senior citizens.
Mr. Bowis: The implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 was phased in between 1991 and 1993. The core provisions, including those for older people, have all been in force since 1 April 1993.
Childline
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proposals she has for increasing the amount of grant paid to the charity, Childline;
(2) what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding value added tax paid by Childline.
Mr. Bowis: The overall level of tax reliefs for charities is worth over £1.4 billion a year. The full range of reliefs means that charities are relieved of about one third of their potential VAT bill. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had not discussions with my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer about value added tax. Amounts of funding under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act (1968) for 1995 96 will be made in due course.
In the past eight years, Childline has received start-up, core and project funding from this and other Government Departments and I am pleased to note that this has enabled it to attract other funding such that its total income last year was £3.9 million and that it has been able to build up assets of some £1.4 million.
Information
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she intends to publish a code on practice on access to health service information.
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Mr. Malone: Yes. The code of practice of openness in the national health service will be published during 1995.
Training Courses
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each training and tuition course with a total cost exceeding £5, 000 paid for by (a) her Department and (b) her agencies during the last 12 months, showing the title and objectives of each course, the name of the organisations engaged, the total cost of each course, a summary of the responsibilities of staff members taking part and the process for course evaluation by the Department or agency.
Mr. Sackville: Decisions on training have been largely devolved to line management. The information the hon. member seeks is therefore not available centrally and could be provided only at
disproportionate cost. I understand, however, that courses with per capita costs exceeding £5,000 would be very rare.
One agency sponsored a member of staff for a course where fees exceeded £5,000. The details requested are:
Title: Master of Business Administration
Cost: £6,000
Organisations: Henley Management College
Summary of responsibilities of staff member taking part: Project manager for health facilities engineering team, including strategic management and provision of professional advice.
Objectives: To enhance business management skills to enable the officer to take a more proactive and growing role in the success of the agency. To develop consultancy skills to work effectively in support of health service clients. To develop own major projects. Course evaluation: An evaluation form is completed by the individual. This is used in a formal evaluation process to access the contribution of the course to overall business objectives and individual development needs. A subsequent review assesses long-term impact on individual and business performance.
Residential and Domiciliary Care
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the latest statistics available showing the proportion of (a) residential accommodation and (b) domiciliary services which are provided by the independent sector in each local authority area.
Mr. Bowis: The information requested on residential accommodation (excluding nursing homes) is published in table A1 of "Key indicators of local authority social services 1994", copies of which are available in the Library. Information on domiciliary services purchased by local authorities is included in table A3 of the same publication. More recent statistics on the number of residential accommodation places, excluding nursing homes at 31 March 1994 were published in table 1 of "Residential Accommodation in England 1994", Statistical Bulletin 1994/13, copies of which will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority residential care home beds were provided under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 by local authority in each of the last five years.
Mr. Bowis: The information requested for England for the period 1988 to 1994 and by local authority for 1994 was published in "Personal Social Services: Residential Accommodation in England 1994", Statistical Bulletin 1994/13. The readily available information by local authority for earlier years was published in "Residential
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Accommodation for Elderly and for Younger Physically Disabled People: All Residents in Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes Year Ending 31 March 1988 to Year Ending 31 March 1993 England", RA/88-93/2(H). Copies of both publications are available in the Library.Royal Infirmary, Leicester
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health(1) if she will make a statement on the length of time the royal infirmary, Leicester takes to perform operations on women;
(2) if she will make a statement on the case of Yvonne Smith and others whose operations at the royal infirmary, Leicester were delayed;
(3) if she will issue guidelines to ensure that there are no delays in the performing of operations on women whose pregnancies have come to an end.
Mr. Sackville: Any delays experienced in these cases are regrettable.
Hospitals take such decisions on the basis of clinical need and these are matters for Leicester royal infirmary national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Philip Hammersley, chairman of the trust, for details.
NHS Trusts (Termination Payments)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answers of 9 December 1994, Official Report, column 395 , and 16 December, Official Report, columns 831 32, what were the reasons why severance payments did not conform to the guidance set out in TEL(94)3.
Mr. Malone: The national health service executive has requested additional information about certain payments to establish whether they conformed to guidelines in TEL(94)3. Until this additional information is received and analysed, the NHS executive cannot say whether the level of payment was or was not consistent with the recommended method of calculation.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 19 December, Official Report, columns 985 86, if she will update the table on termination payments made to chief executives and general and senior managers of trusts.
Mr. Malone: The table sets out the latest information about termination payments made since April 1994 which national health service trusts have notified to the NHS Executive, under the arrangements in TEL(94)3.
|Number of
NHS Trust |payments |Amount £
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Broadgreen Hospital NHS trust |3 |4,487
|7,323
|31,078
Bromley Hospitals NHS trust |25,400
Burnley Health Care |245,000
Burton Hospitals NHS trust |7,053
Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS trust |2 |10,086
|6,329
Chorley and South Ribble NHS trust |28,749
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Learning
Disabilities NHS trust |11,000
Dudley Priority Health NHS trust |3 |37,222
|7,481
|9,639
East Surrey Learning Disability and
Mental Health Services NHS trust |36,677
Enfield Community Care NHS trust |35,522
Epsom Healthcare NHS trust |15,000
Fosse Health NHS trust |19,500
Hammersmith Hospitals NHS trust |2 |47,616
|75,073
Herefordshire Community Health NHS
trust |28,416
Heathlands Mental Health NHS trust |25,008
Hertfordshire Health agency |3 |3,000
|3,000
|3,000
Kings Healthcare NHS trust |3 |55,573
|1,005
|23,627
The Medway NHS trust |3 |12,991
|12,803
|13,501
Mid Anglia Community Health |5,449
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS trust |31,549
North East Essex mental health services |26,188
North Hampshire Hospitals NHS trust |30,000
North Mersey Community NHS trust |11,300
North Tees Health NHS trust |27,764
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS trust |25,000
Northampton Community Healthcare
NHS trust |2 |20,259
|19,540
Pilgrim Health NHS trust |7,864
Plymouth Hospitals NHS trust |7,865
Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
University NHS trust |77,715
Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust |35,295
Royal Liverpool University hospital |2 |47,355
|7,242
Royal Liverpool Children's NHS trust |18,466
Royal United Hospital Bath NHS trust |19,343
Salford Mental Health Services NHS
trust |15,847
South Bedfordshire Community
Healthcare trust |17,771
South Kent Community Healthcare trust |30,636
South Kent Hospitals NHS trust |8,626
South Warwickshire General Hospitals
NHS trust |34,829
Southend Healthcare NHS trust |3 |43,908
|29,901
|7,031
Stockport Healthcare NHS trust |21,940
Teddington Memorial Hospital NHS trust |18,750
United Leeds Teaching Hospitals
NHS trust |30,000
Walsall Community NHS trust |35,000
Walsall Hospital NHS trust |6,926
West Herts Community Health
NHS Trust |4 |2,633
|2,276
|29,505
|40,000
Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS trust |27,314
Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS trust |22,167
Worthing and Southlands hospitals
NHS trust |2 |34,547
|18,200
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 19 December 1994, Official Report , columns 985 86 , how many of those receiving termination payments are still working in the NHS in any capacity.
Mr. Malone: This information is not available centrally.
Private Psychiatrists
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by district health authorities on private psychiatric services over the last five years by authority.
Mr. Bowis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 1 July 1993, Official Report , column 616 .
NHS Contracts
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the agreement made with the chief executive of the NHS executive between 1986 and 1989 regarding his non-involvement in NHS contracts with IBM.
Mr. Sackville: The agreement between IBM and the Department of Health and Social Security dated 10 February 1986 formed the contractual basis of the secondment of Sir Leonard Peach as director of personnel, national health service management board. It sets out the detailed terms and conditions of his appointment. It would not be appropriate to place a copy in the Library.
The relevant extract from the agreement covering Sir Leonard Peach's non- involvement in NHS contracts with
IBM reads:
"The secondee will not undertake work in any way connected with procurement of products or selection of suppliers in any of IBM's spheres of operation. His work should not in any way relate to IBM or any of its competitors and he will be asked to sign a conflict of interest statement, a copy of which is attached to this contract. In addition he will absent himself from any discussions on the NHS Management Board or elsewhere, which might lead to DHSS letting a contract or commission to IBM. Also he is required to make a declaration to the Chairman of the NHS Board whenever IBM submits a tender to the DHSS or a Health Authority in England or obtains a contract PROVIDED that such declaration shall only be required in respect of major bids. These are defined as IBM System 370 architectured systems or volume purchase agreements for small systems. In particular, this definition excludes typewriters, personal computers, supplies, single small-system bids and all bids or sales by Agents or third parties."
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to find a copy of the conflict of interest statement referred to in the first paragraph of this extract.
St. Bartholomew's Hospital
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many operations have been cancelled at St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, because of bed shortages in the past two years;
(2) how many people were admitted to St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, in 1990 91, 1991 2, 1992 93 and 1993 94;
(3) how many patients were admitted to St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, and through what routes
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other than accident and emergency, in 1990 91, 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94.Mr. Malone: This information is not available centrally. Detailed information may be obtained by contacting Sir Derek Boorman, chairman of the Royal Hospitals NHS trust.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many nursing posts will be lost as a result of the closure of St. Bartholomew's hospital, London;
(2) what will happen to the specialist services currently provided on the St. Bartholomew's hospital site after its closure; and what will happen to existing nursing terms working on specialist wards at St. Bartholomew's hospital;
(3) how many extra beds will be added to (a) St. Thomas's hospital, London, (b) King's College hospital, London, (c) Royal London hospital, (d) Homerton hospital, London, (e) University College hospital, London and (f) Whittington hospital, London to accommodate the extra demand as a result of St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, closure;
(4) to which hospital patients will be referred once St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, has closed.
Mr. Malone: Detailed changes in the deployment of resources at the Royal Hospitals national health service trust and neighbouring hospitals are a matter for local providers and commissioning authorities, taking account of the outcome of the public consultation exercise currently being undertaken by East London and the City health authority.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much extra money is being invested in primary health care and community care to offset the effects of the closure of St. Bartholomew's hospital, London.
Mr. Malone: For 1993 94 and 1994 95, an extra £15 million is being invested in developing primary health care in the East London and the City health district.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people attended the accident and emergency department at St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, in 1990 91, 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94.
Mr. Malone: Figures are shown in the table.
A and E attendances at St. Bartholomew's Hospital by financial year Year |First |Follow-up |Total (April/March) |attendances |attendances |attendances ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1990-91 |37,139 |5,185 |42,324 1991-92 |35,184 |4,529 |39,713 1992-93 |31,187 |2,740 |33,927 1993-94 |29,801 |2,559 |32,360
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to respond to the open letter sent to her on 26 January by the Islington Gazette about the future of St. Bartholomew's hospital and of health services generally for the people of Islington.
Mr. Malone: We have no record of receiving any such letter.
Hospitals, London
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average and mean rate of bed occupancy
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for (a) St. Thomas's hospital, London, (b) King's College hospital, London, (c) Royal London hospital, (d) Homerton hospital, London, (e) University College hospital, London and (f) Whittington hospital, London, in 1990 91, 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94; and what is the estimated increase in journey times for patients in the areas immediately surrounding St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, to travel to these hospitals.Mr. Malone: Information on the average and mean rates of bed occupancy is not available centrally. Detailed information about individual trusts may be obtained by writing to the appropriate trust chairmen.
Studies have shown that St. Thomas hospital, King's College hospital, the Royal London hospital, Homerton hospital and University College hospital are all within 15 minutes driving time of St. Bartholomew's hospital. The journey time to the Whittington is only slightly longer.
Based on average traffic speed, Monday to Friday off-peak.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current bed capacity of (a) St. Thomas's hospital, London, (b) Kings College hospital, London, (c) Royal London hospital, (d) Homerton hospital, London, (e) University College hospital, London and (f) Whittington hospital, London.
Mr. Malone: The bed capacity of individual hospital sites within hospital trusts is not available centrally. Available information for hospital trusts is shown in the table:
Acute bed numbers in inner London trusts-average available beds 1993-94 Trust |Acute ---------------------------------------------------- Guys and St. Thomas's Hospital Trust<1> |1,054 King's Healthcare<2> |634 Royal Hospitals NHS Trust<3> |610 Homerton Hospital<4> |321 University College London Hospitals<5> |562 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust |420 <1> Includes Guy's hospital and St. Thomas's hospital. <2> Includes King's College hospital and Dulwich hospital. <3> Includes the Royal London hospital, St. Bartholomew's hospital and the London Chest hospital. <4> Shadow Trust. <5> Includes University College hospitals and the Central Middlesex hospital.
Acute beds includes :
General patients excluding elderly, younger physically disabled, neonatal cots not in maternity wards, terminally ill/palliative care. Mental illness and maternity beds are not included.
Fertility Treatment
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of each health authority with regard to fertility treatment in general and in vitro fertility treatment in particular, including details of restrictions placed by age and the existence of children by the present or previous relationship.
Mr. Sackville: This information is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of each individual health authority to determine the local availability of infertility services.
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Waiting Times
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the average current waiting times in the accident and emergency departments in (a) St. Thomas's hospital, London, (b) King's College hospital, London, (c) Royal London hospital, (d) Homerton hospital, London, (e) University College hospital, London and (f) Whittington hospital, London.
Mr. Malone: This information is not available centrally.
Mr. Hugh Fraser
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will direct the chief executive of the Lewisham hospital trust to reply to the inquiries of 29 November 1994, 20 December 1994 and 18 January from the hon. Member for Lewisham, West relating to the case of Mr. Hugh Fraser.
Mr. Sackville: I understand Lewisham Hospital national health service trust has now sent a full reply.
Tobacco Advertising
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whom she has appointed as the new chairman of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship.
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