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Mr. Malone: The Department seeks the advice of the postgraduate deans and the medical profession's joint consultants committee on the number and distribution of pre-registration house officer posts. The aim is that there should be sufficient posts to ensure that all new graduates are able to obtain a PRHO post. There is a small--currently 12.5 per cent.-- excess of posts to ensure that they have some choice.
Ambulance Services
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the change in emergency demand and urgent demand for ambulance services in 1994 95; [24698]
(2) if she will list the ambulance services which failed to meet patients charter standards in any month for the year 1994 95, and the total number of months in which each ambulance service failed to meet patients charter standards; and if she will make a statement. [24699]
Mr. Sackville: This information is not collected on a monthly basis. Information on ambulance service activity in 1994 95 will not be available until later in the year.
Read Clinical Codes
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the total sums paid for the Read code by the NHS; and to whom these sums were paid. [24762]
Mr. Sackville: The sum paid by the Secretary of State for the Read clinical codes is commercial-in-confidence information. The agreed amount was paid directly to the inventor and developer of the codes, Dr. James Read, in April 1990.
Telephone Links (South Thames Regional Office)
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the total cost to South Thames regional health authority of purchasing electronic links computer equipment for new 10 digit telephone numbers within the NHS; [24789]
(2) from which budget South Thames regional health authority is purchasing electronic links computer equipment. [24788]
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Mr. Sackville: The telephone switchboard at Eastbourne terrace, the location of both South and North Thames regional health authorities, will be upgraded at a cost of £8,500 to make it compatible with the existing Department of Health telephone system. This will have significant benefits and will be funded from the office information system implementation budget for the North and South Thames regional office.
Breast Cancer
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she is giving to extending the age that women are automatically screened for breast cancer. [24824]
Mr. Sackville: A study is being planned looking at the benefits and cost-effectiveness of including women aged 65 or over in the breast screening programme. Research is already under-way on the effectiveness of screening women aged 40 to 50.
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the research currently being conducted into (a) breast screening of women 65 years and over, (b) breast screening of women under 50 and (c) the interval between breast screening which her Department has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated; and if she will detail for each (1) the body undertaking the research, (2) the geographical areas covered, (3) the sample size, (4) the expected completion date and (5) the cost of the exercise. [24825]
Mr. Sackville: The United Kingdom Health Departments, along with 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, and the two major cancer research charities--the Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund--are currently funding four studies into breast cancer screening costing £5 million over five years. Two of these trials relate to:
(i) The effects of screening women annually from age 40 This is a multi- centre trial of some 195,000 women aged 40 41 who were identified and randomly allocated to a study group of 65,000 or a control group of 130,000. An interim analysis will take place in 1996, after which a decision on future funding will be taken. (ii) The effects of screening more frequently than every three years in women aged 50 and over
This is a five-centre randomised trial looking at annual screening. The aim is to recruit 100,000 women aged 50 to 64. This trial is due to finish in 1996.
The trials are being co-ordinated by the United Kingdom co-ordinating committee on cancer research. The Department of Health contributed £270,000 to the trials in 1994 95.
The Department also funds the cancer screening evaluation unit at the Royal Marsden hospital, Sutton, by some £400,000 per year. The CSEU has a wide remit for the evaluation of cancer screening, a large part of which relates to breast cancer screening. This includes the co-ordination of the multi-centre UKCCCR age trial.
A study is planned to look at the benefits and
cost-effectiveness of including women aged 65 or over in the breast screening programme.
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Imported Monkeys
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made as to potential health hazards posed by the import of monkeys into the United Kingdom. [24786]
Mr. Sackville: All monkeys imported into Great Britain have to be licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and must spend six months in quarantine. Importers carry out tests for infectious agents that might be transmitted to humans before importation and during the period of quarantine. Instructions on preventing the spread of infection are given to those who handle monkeys as part of their work. Our medical advice is that these steps are adequate to protect human health.
Medical Insurance
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility a family health services authority has to ensure that a general practitioner holds current medical insurance. [24785]
Mr. Malone: None. General practitioners, as self-employed contractors, have responsibility for ensuring where appropriate, that they hold medical insurance. Subscriptions to medical defence bodies are fully reimbursed to the profession through the cost-plus contract.
Disciplinary Tribunals
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances a nurse may present evidence to a hospital disciplinary tribunal. [24787]
Mr. Sackville: There are no special provisions or circumstances which affect the attendance of nurses at disciplinary hearings; like other members of staff they may be called on to give evidence.
HIV-AIDS
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives have been undertaken by her Department to warn young people of the need to protect themselves against HIV when travelling abroad. [24862]
Mr. Sackville: The Health Education Authority which has the responsibility for the national HIV public education programme runs a summer campaign every year to alert travellers to the risk of HIV infection when they go abroad. This year and for the past two years the Department of Health has also run its HIV "Travel Safe Campaign" which is aimed at young, independent travellers. National initiatives are amply supported by travel projects funded at local level in the national health service.
TRANSPORT
Motorway Traffic, Hampshire
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sections of motorways in Hampshire currently have traffic levels which exceed on average 75,000 vehicles per day; and what sections are expected to have such traffic levels by 2000. [24299]
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Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 18 May 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport what sections of motorways in Hampshire currently have traffic levels which exceed on average 75, 000 vehicles per day and what sections are expected to have such traffic levels by the year 2000.
The following sections of motorway currently have traffic levels in excess of 75,000 vehicles per day:-
M3 Junctions 4 6 (Camberley to Basingstoke)
M27 Junctions 5 9 (Stoneham to Park Gate)
M27 Junctions 11 12 (Fareham to Portsmouth)
By the year 2000, the following additional sections are expected to have flows in excess of 75,000 vehicles per day:-
M3 Junctions 9 14 (Winnall to M27 Chilworth)
M27 Junctions 4 11 (Chilworth to Fareham).
Road Surfacing
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of (a) laying and (b) maintaining 100 yards of (i) porous and(ii) conventional asphalt. [23863]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 18 May 1995:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the cost of (a) laying and (b) maintaining 100 yards of (i) porous asphalt and (ii) conventional asphalt.
My previous answer of 8 March quoted a range of prices for one kilometre length within a typical surfacing contract. Prices for a 100 yards length would be approximately 10% of those quoted figures. For instance a two lane dual carriageway all purpose road would be £10,000 to £20,000 for porous asphalt and £7,000 to £10,000 for conventional asphalt. I should point out that where only short lengths such as 100 yards are to be surfaced the costs would rise substantially for both porous asphalt and conventional asphalt due to the increased impact of fixed site costs. As we have little experience of such working we are unable to be more precise. Differences in maintenance cost between porous asphalt and conventional asphalt relate chiefly to the need for more frequent resurfacing with porous asphalt, the extra cost of the porous asphalt material and the more frequent salting operations needed for porous asphalt in winter. It is currently not possible to give any representative information on the additional cost of salting given the limited amount of porous asphalt which has been laid and the recent mild winters. However, I am able to give you an indication of the difference in material and laying costs. Broadly speaking, maintaining a porous asphalt surface over the life of a road will be of the order of double the cost of maintaining a conventional asphalt surface. This does not take into account the effect of traffic delays during roadworks which will add to the cost of maintaining porous asphalt because of the need for more frequent resurfacing.
As explained in my letter the costs are influenced by numerous factors such as traffic and climatic conditions. These also have an influence on the life of a road surface. Consequently the performance of the different surfaces will vary significantly from site to site.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the locations of the sections of Britain's motorways that currently have porous asphalt surfacing; what total length of motorways is covered in porous asphalt surfacing; and what total length of
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motorway covered in porous asphalt surfacing currently have traffic levels (a) below and (b) above 75,000 vehicles per day. [24300]Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 18 May 1995:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the locations of lengths of porous asphalt laid on motorways throughout Britain and of those the total lengths carrying above and below 75,000 vehicles per day.
You will appreciate that the Secretary of State for Transport and the Highways Agency are responsible only for roads in England. Roads in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the appropriate Secretaries of State and I am not able to provide information to you for those areas.
Porous asphalt surfacings have been used within two long term trials on the M1 in Yorkshire and on the M6 in Lancashire. In addition, porous surfaces have been used on the M40 (Junction 6 - Postcombe) and on the M25 widening (Junctions 7-8) currently under construction.
To date the total length of motorway covered with porous asphalt is approximately 4.5 miles excluding the trials. These trials comprise approximately 1.1 miles but in each case it is only one or part of one of the two carriageways which has been treated.
None of the lengths with porous asphalt surfacing carry flows less than 75,000 vehicles per day.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report, columns 351 52, in what specific circumstances porous asphalt is considered not to be technically suitable as a noise mitigation measure on motorways. [24461]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 18 May 1995:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the specific circumstances porous asphalt is considered not to be technically suitable as a noise mitigation measure on motorways.
The technical limitations on the use of porous asphalt on motorways and other trunk roads are set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 7, Section 2, Part 4, HD27/94 as published by HMSO. This states that porous asphalt should not be used in the following situations:
a) On areas where the pavement strength is sub-standard. b) On areas where there is considerable acceleration, braking, turning and parking.
c) On tight radius curves, and loops of radii less than 75 metres, or when gradients exceed 10 per cent., without advice from the Overseeing Department.
d) On areas where excessive deposits of detritus or oil and fuel may be experienced; such as parking areas, exits from farms and quarries and other industrial sites.
e) On areas where the use of tracked vehicles, construction plant, farm equipment or similar industrial vehicles is expected. f) On areas where the cross-fall is insufficient to remove water to the road edge such that flooding may occur in the porous asphalt. g) At locations where free drainage cannot be accommodated along the low edge of the surfacing; for example abutting other types of construction such as a concrete carriageway.
h) Generally on lengths of carriageway less than 100m, because of spray carry-over from adjacent surfacing, unless special conditions prevail.
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i) Where cyclists use the carriageway and where kerbs are provided, unless provision is made to ensure drainage design overcomes any possible safety hazards.j) On existing new bridges where it is not possible to adequately drain the surface.
k) In urban environments, where frequent excavations by statutory undertakers may occur.
l) Where traffic levels exceed 4,000 commercial vehicles per lane per day, at opening, without reference to the Overseeing Department. This is being extended to embrace traffic levels up to 6,000. Porous asphalt is not recommended for use on jointed concrete or flexible composite road pavements without seeking advice from the Overseeing Department. Additionally, it is not recommended for certain steel deck bridges.
Whilst the above limitations currently apply the Highways Agency has implemented a research programme to see if it is possible to produce more durable porous asphalt and reduce the number of limitations.
Motorway Noise
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report, column 345 , what is the definition adopted by his Department of noise levels being unreasonably high at adjacent properties to a motorway; and what consideration is given to the expected increase in noise levels due to the future growth in traffic. [24458]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 18 May 1995 :
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the definition adopted of noise levels being unreasonable adjacent to motorways and what allowance is made for traffic growth. The level of traffic noise which is taken to be unreasonable is that prescribed by the Noise Insulation Regulations, namely a level which is predicted to exceed 68 db(A) at the facade of a residential property, of which an increase of at least 1db(A) is attributable to traffic on the new or improved road. Future growth of traffic, both on the new road and associated roads in the area, is taken into account by basing predicted noise levels on the most adverse combination anticipated within 15 years of the new road or improvement being open to traffic.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report, column 344, for what reasons only motorways which had a start of works prior to April and which are still under construction are considered for the provision of acoustic fencing. [24459]
Mr. John Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 18 May 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons only motorways which had a start of works prior to April and that are still under construction are considered for acoustic fencing.
The provision of acoustic fencing is considered for all new motorway and motorway widening schemes as the noise mitigation part of a package of environmental measures. But how much is provided in any one year depends on when the particular scheme starts and the contractors programme of work on that scheme.
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Thus in answering your previous question, we could only give details of fencing for schemes which had started and therefore had a known contractors works programme. Information for schemes which are due to start this year will become available when the contractors submit their programme and I shall write to you again.Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report , column 346 , how he allows for the cost of compensation for loss in property values under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 in making a cost benefit analysis of proposals for acoustic fencing and other noise mitigation measures for motorways in the absence of specific figures. [24400]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 18 May 1995:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning how costs of compensation for loss in property values under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 are taken into account in cost benefit analysis of proposals for acoustic fencing.
Composite estimates of the likely amount of compensation payable are provided by the District Valuer at various stage of development of a road proposal. Estimates of the element of compensation attributable to loss in property value under Part I of the Land Compensation Act take into account the mitigating effect of any protective measures included in the options or alternatives which the District Valuer is asked to consider.
Street Furniture
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the likely reduction in the numbers of serious and fatal accidents if steel or concrete light standards and telegraph poles were replaced by aluminium poles and standards. [24904]
Mr. Norris: The information requested is not available.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) serious and (b) fatal accidents involved collision with lighting standards and telephone poles in each of the last five years. [24905]
Mr. Norris: The information requested is shown in the table:
Fatal and serious accidents involving collision
with lamp posts, telegraph poles or electricity poles:
Great Britain 1989-93
Number of accidents
One vehicle only Pedestrian and
involved one vehicle
involved
Object hit |Year |Fatal |Serious |Fatal |Serious
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lamp post |1989 |94 |866 |4 |20
|1990 |110 |854 |6 |25
|1991 |91 |683 |6 |32
|1992 |93 |627 |5 |26
|1993 |70 |586 |4 |16
Telegraph pole or electricity pole
|1989 |45 |290 |0 |5
|1990 |34 |288 |3 |3
|1991 |27 |234 |3 |9
|1992 |25 |213 |1 |6
|1993 |28 |182 |0 |1
North Sea Conference
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he will (i) put forward and (ii) support at the North sea ministerial conference in Denmark on 8 June in respect of shipping; and if he will make a statement. [24404]
Mr. Norris: A note on UK policy objectives for the fourth North sea conference was placed in the Library of the House on 16 May. My Department has been fully involved in the preparations for the fourth North sea conference, and has already made a number of proposals consistent with our policy on marine safety and pollution following Lord Donaldson's report, "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas".
The Government will be represented at the North sea conference by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. He will be proposing and supporting a wide range of measures to enhance ship safety, to reduce accidental and operational discharges from ships, to improve the clean-up of spills and to secure better compensation for the victims of marine pollution damage, especially through the development and ratification of the convention on hazardous and noxious substances.
Coast Watch Services
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has given to the Coastguard Agency in respect of co- operation with the National Coastwatch Institution; and if he will make a statement. [24669]
Mr. Norris: The Coastguard Agency welcomes any useful information which the National Coastwatch Institution may provide. It is always ready to encourage any responsible organisation volunteering information which might assist the coastguard in fulfilling the national responsibility for co-ordination of civil maritime search and rescue.
Ferry Safety
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the results of the evacuation trials conducted by the HSA on new high-speed catamaran passenger craft; and if he will make a statement. [24920]
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 18 May 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about evacuation trials on new high-speed catamaran passenger craft.
There are no plans to publish the results of the evacuation trials conducted by the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) on high-speed catamaran passenger craft. The MSA is, however, fully satisfied that the craft currently operating from United Kingdom ports can meet the required evacuation time for this type of vessel.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he gave to the evacuations from the Achille Lauro and the Lakonia when postulating evacuation times for ferries using United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement. [24922]
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Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 18 May 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about evacuation times for roll-on roll-off ferries with regard to the cases of the "Achille Lauro" and the "Lakonia". Responsibility for the investigation of casualties to ships lies with the flag state; neither the "Achille Lauro" nor the "Lakonia" were registered with the United Kingdom. The flag state may thus determine what changes are required to the regulations of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and, put forward proposals for discussion within the International Maritime Organization. Any changes agreed, including for example evacuation times, would be implemented by the United Kingdom and other Administrations signatory to the SOLAS Convention.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he has not yet accepted the Marine Safety Committee document 65/4, "RoRo Ferry Safety". [24822]
Mr. Norris: The Secretary of State has already broadly welcomed the recommendations of the panel of experts, now issued as Maritime Safety Committee document 65/4, in his oral statement to the House on 5 April 1995, Official Report , column 1753. The Government will continue to press for the adoption of measures to enhance ferry safety recommended by the panel.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the review of the financial implications of Marine Safety Committee document 65/4, "RoRo Ferry Safety", to be completed and published. [24823]
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